Schulz uses Alford Plea in criminal sexual conduct case
By Rae KrugerMARSHALL - A former Marshall band teacher used an Alford Plea last week for a charge of criminal sexual conduct in the fourth degree.
Lori Ann Schulz, 33, of Faribault pleaded guilty to the charge with an Alford Plea. Under an Alford Plea, Schulz does not admit her guilt but says based on the evidence, a jury could find her guilty of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old female student, from January to June 2003 in Marshall, court records said.
A charge of criminal sexual conduct in the second degree was dismissed.
Schulz was the victim's band teacher, court records said.
The victim read her victim impact statement in court last week.
"I don't remember most things from my eighth- and ninth-grade year, but I do remember what you did to me and how much it hurt me," the victim said, a copy of the transcript of the statement said.
"Not only did you rob me of my innocence, but you took away all of my firsts," the victim said. "Because of what you did, every day is a struggle. You took the hope and trust of a 14-year-old girl and crushed it."
The victim said she will have not only physical scars from the incidents, but emotional scars as well.
"My spirit was crushed," the victim said. "My faith in life, people and humanity is gone. There will never be a day in my life where this will not affect me."
Schulz received a stay of imposition on a sentence and must serve 90 days in jail. Schulz must pay a $500 fine, with $250 of it stayed, have no contact with the victim or the victim's family and follow other conditions.
Schulz taught junior high band in Marshall for five years before she resigned at the end of the 2006-007 school year.
Court documents said Schulz was no longer teaching but working in a different field.
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mnnative
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08-08-08 8:53 PM
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wow. why are women sex offenders not taken seriously? does she have to register? do all of her neighbors forever know she is an offender. why not? Working with abused children, it saddens me to see how many women offenders are not punished as they should be.
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volemt
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08-08-08 1:45 PM
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To the victim, believe me, I KNOW this is a hard thing to deal with. But please don't lose hope in everyone and everything. Not ALL people are like this. There are very good people in this world. It's hard, but please try to find the good in others. You will be glad you did.
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breezy4
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08-08-08 10:16 AM
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Take a look at the court records for today....looks like disorderly conduct and sexual abuse warrant the same punishment....WOW, how messed up is that?
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Wiblemo
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08-08-08 10:02 AM
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Can you use this Alford Plea for anything? Sounds like a sweet deal for people. Why didn't Franco's lawyers think of this? And who is this Alford guy it is named after?
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