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by FOX35News-Mornings from Lake Mary, FL

Last Post 1 day, 11 hours Ago


The Orlando Sentinel reported Wednesday that a teacher accused of having sex with her 14-year-old student would not be spending any time behind bars.

Jennifer Tarkenton was arrested last November and charged with three counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a child. The former Greenwood Middle School special needs teacher resigned her position after her arrest.

According to the Sentinel, prosecutors offered Tarkenton a deal which she accepted. She will be on probation for the next five years and has agreed to give up her teaching certificate.

In addition, she cannot live within 500 feet of a school or park and must stay away from anyone under the age of 18. She is now listed as a sex offender. 

The Sentinel also reported that since her arrest, Tarkenton got married and now lives in Lake Mary with her husband and son.

Tell us what you think. Was her punishment fitting for the crime? Should she have been offered a plea deal?
18 Comments |  Add a Comment

Member Comments Total Comments: 18
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Ericjhach read my blog view my photos
Oct 2, 2008 | 5:29 AM

This is typical of the old double standard.
Female= probation
Male= put into prison
What ever happened to equality?

toddt read my blog
Oct 2, 2008 | 6:03 AM

It seems there has always been a double standard in society when sex and sex is viewed. If a male has sex with multiple partners he is viewed one way by his peers and it a female does the same thing she is viewed another way. For whatever reason the court system does not look at a female teacher the same as a male teacher. The male teacher is more of a threat......and I am not sure why??

anonymous7890 read my blog
Oct 2, 2008 | 6:48 AM

This is a clear example of UNFAIRNESS! Why do men get serious prison time for having sex with underage children, but this woman gets probation?! This woman is clearly a rapist! That young boy is under the age of consent, a minor, and this teacher took advantage of him. The woman should face just as many years in jail as a man would in this situation. She should be required to register as a sex offender, and the court should show NO MERCY! Woman always wanted as equal rights as men....LOCK THE CHILD-MOLESTING BITCH UP!

anonymous7890 read my blog
Oct 2, 2008 | 7:00 AM

This is a clear example of UNFAIRNESS! Why do men get serious prison time for having sex with underage children, but this woman gets probation?! This woman is clearly a rapist! That young boy is under the age of consent, a minor, and this teacher took advantage of him. The woman should face just as many years in jail as a man would in this situation. She should be required to register as a sex offender, and the court should show NO MERCY! Woman always wanted as equal rights as men....LOCK THE CHILD-MOLESTING BlTCH UP!

Captain_Jim read my blog view my photos
Oct 2, 2008 | 7:18 AM

Once again Justice shows that although she is blind there seems to be a bit of groping going on before making a decision.

undetermined_mom
Oct 2, 2008 | 8:05 AM

Per comment below...That is not correct..My daughter is a victim of rape and they want to give the offender a slap on his wrist as well, because the crime was committed before he turned 21, which happend two months later, and no criminal background. Now my daughter has to live with this, this crime wasn
t consent and my daughter had to get an abortion because he left her pregnant at 15 and the DNA came back positive and now they want to do the same give him either probation and a sex offender or put him in jail for 6 months no sex offense and house arrest for 2 years. This is ridiculous this is why their so many sex offenders in Florida, because they give them a slap on the wrist because it's their first time. I think their should be a law that passes no matter what age when committed a crime like this or if this is their first offense they should spend time in prison and register as a sex offender.

LVidal view my photos
Oct 2, 2008 | 8:55 AM

This is why there are repeat offenders! The laws for pedophiles or any sexual predator are too lenient and this is why they continue to commit the same crimes over and over again. The only time they receive the correct punishment is when when decide to kill their victim and they should not be able to get that far!

candyaquino read my blog view my photos
Oct 2, 2008 | 9:05 AM

WELL.....WHY SHOULDN'T HE.....AFTER ALL LOOK AT THE BEAUTY BLONDE GIRLY TEACHER THAT GOT AWAY WITH GOING TO JAIL NOT TOOOO LONG AGO......heck.......they should just have a first on hand sex education class THEREFORE ELIMANTING CHILD ABUSE by a teacher......FLORI-DUH is just full of surprises..........NO SHOCKED HERE...........IF ONE CAN GET AWAY......THEN WHY NOT THE OTHER?

shadows read my blog
Oct 2, 2008 | 10:55 AM

The next time that you have an opportunity, find out how many male teachers there are in your local elementary school. This is one of the reasons......male teachers are not welcomed by mothers and fathers because they aren't "motherly" enough or are seen as potential child abusers.

This type of double standard is also the reason why many talented males are either avoiding or leaving teaching. Why subject yourself to such working conditions and the possibility of being accused and having your career ruined even if you are innocent.

Our society has exhibited a preference for female elementary teachers for many years......back to the days when the compensation of a teacher usually included staying with one of the local families....hence the label "old maid school teacher." Being married did not help one's chance of being hired.

candyaquino read my blog view my photos
Oct 2, 2008 | 1:12 PM

Shadows you are so right. Though I will say Odyssey have a nice share of handsome and smart male teachers...ITS A SHAME BECAUSE ALOT OF THIS HAPPENS TOO.....because EVERYONE WANTS TO "SUE"......and there are actually PIGLETS OF PARENTS WHO WILL PUT THEIR KIDS UP TO THIS so that they can turn around and falsey accused a teacher......or a doctor or anything THEY DEEMED THEY CAN MAKE MONEY OUT OF.......sorry but that's why UNLESS IS FAMILY OR SOMEONE REALLY CLOSE.......I TOLD MY SON AND USED TO TELL MY DAUGHTERS......NO KIDS IN THE HOUSE.........shame....when I was a kid...WE PLAYED, WE FELL, WE LAUGH AND NOBODY SUE ANYBODY......lets thank also ALL THE SHYSTER PIECES OF CRAP ATTORNEYS WHO ADVERTISE EVERY SINGLE DAY AND HOURS........on TV........COME TO ME......YOU SEE THE GREEN......tsk tsk

Captain_Jim read my blog view my photos
Oct 2, 2008 | 1:41 PM

Shadows, it goes much further than that. I have a friend who is head of a private school. Her insurance carrier told her straight up that if more than 10% of the teachers she hired were male then they would not provide coverage. One of the biggest problems we have in schools today is that we don't have enough male teachers! I suppose you could say the same thing about our families too.

candyaquino read my blog view my photos
Oct 2, 2008 | 1:49 PM

hey Captain JIm..how are you? listen that doesn't sound too culture........please I pray she shopped around other insurances????

ADeltonian read my blog view my photos
Oct 2, 2008 | 4:44 PM

Typical courts always letter the women off the hook.

Captain_Jim read my blog view my photos
Oct 2, 2008 | 7:10 PM

There aren't that many other insurance companies Candy.

CharChar8907 read my blog view my photos
Oct 2, 2008 | 7:46 PM

Shes getting off too easy. It's not right that a Female gets off with it easily, but a Male gets it harder. It just shows we aren't all Equal. I look at it many ways.

Theres many ways of figuring this out:

I am a Gay Guy, I get hated all the time and I am told I am disgusting!

I know a lot of Lesbian Females, Guys LOVE THEM. Loves the things they do, They are more Accepted then Gay Guys!

I dated a 27 Year old when I was 17. NO ONE LIKED THAT IDEA but it would be okay to date a 27 Year old Female.

In every outlook you look at, Females get off easier! I just wish we all could be Treated Equally. It would be Fair, but this Country isn't Fair. The Government isn't Fair. The Court System isn't Fair. LIFE ISN'T FAIR but its how it is. We can't change it. WTF are we going to do? We can Complain and get mad, but nothing happens! No one opens there mouth and speaks about how they feel!

LLRucker read my blog view my photos
Oct 3, 2008 | 10:02 AM

On this whole situation I have a whole other opinion, but I'll keep it to myself for now. Overall I believe this: women are screaming for equal rights; they expect equal pay for equal work, yada, yada, yada. Okay, then they should also expect to serve just as much jail time for the same "crime" shouldn't they? Or does this equality thing come with qualifications?

shadows read my blog
Oct 3, 2008 | 10:17 AM

CharChar, "heterosexual" males perceive Lesbians as less of a threat to their manhood, plus the porn industry, etc. has unrealistically glamorized Lesbians.

Most heterosexual males know little about the resentments toward males that are often harbored by Lesbians.

American_Man read my blog
Oct 5, 2008 | 10:14 PM

Everyone wants equal rights, so be it. It also means equal justice. Back in the day if a boy had sex with his female teacher,, it was atta boy!, you go boy! I wish I had a teacher like that. Well if men go to jail for underage sex, women should go to jail for underage sex. All things being equal.

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