A 26-year-old preschool teacher accused of having sex with the teen son of her employer pleaded no contest to misdemeanor trespassing in return for a year of probation and a ban on teaching minors.
Vanessa Craighead, 26, also received a day in jail with credit for time served before posting a $10,000 bail bond.
Craighead took the deal after prosecutors added the misdemeanor count and dropped several other charges of child molestation and unlawful sexual intercourse.
According to prosecutors, Craighead worked as a preschool teacher at the daycare center ran by the victim’s mother in Redwood City. She began a sexual relationship with the 16-year-old boy between October 2009 to 2010 shortly after accompanying the family to Disneyland.
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The relationship included several sexual incidents at Craighead’s home and the giving of alcohol, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
After Craighead broke off the relationship and returned to her ex-boyfriend, the boy told his mother who in turn fired her for violating the center’s Christian lifestyle contract. The mother also called her insurance carrier who told her to contact police and child protective services.
The boy was not cooperative — a decision supported by his mother — and wanted the case "to go away,” which led to the disposition, said District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe.
In addition to the year of court probation, Craighead is prohibited from teaching minors or engaging in child care.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
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PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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