04/16/09

A Magic Valley woman accused of having sex with a 16 year old boy last year - was in court for her preliminary hearing today.

39 year old Anna Margaret Bettencourt of Wendell faces two counts of sexual battery of a minor child 16 years of age.

Police say that the Bliss High School social studies teacher - who has been suspended with pay - had sex with a 16 year old male student twice during august and September of last year.

Bettencourt could face up to life in prison on both felony counts.
She waived her preliminary hearing in Gooding county magistrate court.
The prosecution has already offered Bettencourt a plea bargain.

John Horgan says, “It is, your honor. The offer is plea to one count, which will incorporate the facts of both counts. State's going to argue for a 10 year unified sentence, 3 determinate, 7 indeterminate, $5,000 fine suspended, crime of violence fine of $5,000.”

Magistrate Judge Casey Robinson bound Bettencourt over to district court - where she will be arraigned at nine a-m Tuesday, April 28-th.