Teacher pregnant again, apparently by her 14-year-old lover

16 March 1998
REUTERS / Martin Wolk

Ex-Washington Teacher Could Face More Charges

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - The revelation that an imprisoned former teacher is pregnant again, apparently by her 14-year-old lover, increases the likelihood she will face new child rape charges, her lawyer said Sunday.

David Gehrke confirmed that former grade school teacher Mary L. is six weeks pregnant and plans to give birth at the Washington Corrections Center for Women. She entered the state's only women's prison last month to start serving an 89-month sentence stemming from the relationship with her former student.

"She's adamant she's not going to terminate the pregnancy," said Gehrke, who spoke to Mary L. Saturday.

"She's happy because a life has been created," he said. "From her own moral and religious background (she feels) it's a gift from God anytime a life is created."

Mary L. originally was sentenced to six months in jail after pleading guilty to second degree child rape, with the longer sentence suspended on condition that she get counseling and refrain from any further contact with the boy.

But just a month after her release, she and the boy were caught together in a car at 2:30 a.m. after spending an evening at the movies.