A 49-year-old special education teacher, Paedophile Michelle Mellinger, who informed the youngsters she victimised, “I prefer younger individuals,” has been incarcerated.
Michelle Mellinger, a former teaching assistant at McKeesport Area High School in Pennsylvania, pleaded guilty to five charges of engaging in sexual intercourse or contact with adolescents and one count of sexual assault.
She has received a sentence ranging from 11 and a half to 23 months, following a court hearing in which it was revealed that she emailed one of her victims: “Wow, you look amazing.” I have recently identified as a paedophile.
Michelle Mellinger informed one child that he was on her “bucket list” prior to engaging in sexual relations with him.
The court heard that Michelle Mellinger would send her students messages before transporting them to her residence and engaging in sexual activities with them.
Michelle Mellinger exploited five boys aged 15 to 17, but was apprehended in October after her colleagues at the school overheard pupils discussing sexual encounters with her.
Michelle Mellinger tried to have sex with a sixth boy, but the court heard he “took off running” when she started to undress.
A victim impact statement from one boy’s mother, which was read by the prosecutor, said: “Her family is forever changed … Her son is depressed and doesn’t trust any of his teachers.”
Judge Donna Jo McDaniel said Michelle Mellinger had been sustained in her pursuit of underage boys. According to press in Pennsylvania, the incidents occurred between June 2013 until February 2015.
“It wasn’t a bad decision,” the judge said, “there were six victims over the course of two years.”
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