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'I Don't Deserve Life Or Breath,' Teacher Says After Being Sentenced On Sex-Related Charges Involving 6 Students
Former middle school teacher Shannon Moser was sentenced to 10 years in prison and 5 years of probation after having sex with a 16-year-old and sending explicit pictures to others.
A former North Dakota teacher, who once encouraged her students to call her "Kim Kardashian," delivered emotional remarks before a judge sentenced her for sex-related charges involving six underage students.
“I feel like I don’t deserve life or breath for all the harm and hurt that I’ve caused so many people," Shannon Moser said in court Monday, according to KVRR.
The married mother of four took responsibility for her actions and apologized for the pain she'd caused her six victims, her pastor husband and four daughters.
"The trust that family, friends and our community had in me is broken," she said. "It may never be fully restored again and that's a painful sentence I'll have to live with for the rest of my life."
The judge sentenced her to 10 years in prison and an additional five years of probation for the crimes.
Moser pleaded guilty in August to gross sexual imposition, sexual assault and four counts of luring a minor by computer after allegations surfaced that she had been sending sexually explicit photos and videos of herself to students using Snapchat and had sex with one 16-year-old boy in a van at a park, according to a Forum News Service article posted by the Bismark Tribune.
Prosecutors have said a total of six boys were victims of sexual misconduct, including a 14-year-old who Moser had "sexual contact" with, the paper reports.
"So to the boys and their families, I am truly sorry," Moser said in court before the sentence was handed down, according to KVLY.
Moser allowed students to call her "Kim Kardashian" in class and behaved in a way some felt was inappropriate in the classroom.
Prosecutor Tristan Van De Streek had asked for a 20-year sentence, in which 15 years would have been served behind bars, noting that the case was one of the "most tragic" and "heartbreaking" cases he had ever seen, the Forum News Service reported.
However, Moser's attorney Scott Brand had advocated for leniency, suggesting a five-year sentence, followed by five years of probation. He said his client had cooperated fully with the investigation and has taken responsibility for her actions.
Judge Doug Herman also received nine letters, including one from Moser's husband, Brett, in support of the former teacher, KVRR reports.
Brett Moser said his wife had been mentoring and tutoring women behind bars to help them get their GED.
But former students of the disgraced teacher said they believe she got the sentence she deserved.
"There was so many victims and they were kids in my grade. And that's just shocking. ... I think she needed this," one former student, who asked to stay anonymous, told KVLY.
The student said she had once been close to Moser and often turned to her for help or support.
"I wish that this never happened. I wish that I still could talk to her and that we could still be close. But I can't and it kinda breaks my heart," she said, adding that she still had completely forgiven Moser.
The station also spoke with the sister of one of the victims in the case, who said she would have liked to see a life sentence for the crimes.
[Photo: Cass County Sheriff's Office]
