Former Episcopal School Teacher Pleads Guilty

A former Episcopal School of Dallas teacher accused of having sex with a 16-year-old student pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual assault of a child Monday.

John Nathan Campbell, 35, received 10 years probation and will have to register as a sex offender.

The other charge of improper relationship with a student was dropped.

Campbell resigned from the school just days after the relationship was exposed in November 2009.

When Campbell walked into the court room Monday, it was the first time the victim, known only as Jane Doe, and he had seen each other since the relationship was discovered by police.

"Her whole body was shaking," according to Jane Doe's attorney Charla Aldous.

In an emotional victim impact statement, the victim who is now 18, said, "Because of you I had to grow up so much faster than everyone else. I understand now that you tricked me and manipulated me… You were in a position of authority and you abused it horribly."

Campbell showed no reaction and  did not comment after the sentencing. "He feels remorse. He wished that if he had to do it over again, obviously we would not be here today," his attorney Mark Nancarrow told reporters.

Campbell has a new job and is not sure whether he will stay in North Texas, according to Nancarrow.

As part of his plea agreement, he has promised to never seek another teaching job again.

Jane Doe's family was disappointed Campbell did not go to jail but felt justice was served according to their attorney

"He’s a convicted felon and he's a registered sex offender so I'm grateful for that," Aldous said.

In September, the former student and her parents were awarded $8.5 million in compensatory damages and another $700,000 in punitive damages in their civil lawsuit against the school.

When the relationship was discovered, the girl was asked to leave the school in a move the school said was in her best interest. The parents then filed a civil suit against the school, claiming it didn't do enough to protect their daughter from the relationship.

The jury found that the school was not liable for failing to prevent the relationship but was grossly negligent in how it handled the incident when the relationship was discovered.

Lawyers for the school said they plan to file an appeal.