Lang
12/2/23
A West Liberty middle school guidance counselor who had a sexual relationship with a student has been given a suspended sentence.
29-year-old Emily Resendiz reached a plea deal with prosecutors in September. On Friday, Judge Henry Latham II sentenced Resendiz to four ten-year suspended sentences on four counts of Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. All other charges were dropped.
Resendiz had initially been charged with nine counts of 2nd Degree Sexual Abuse, and one count each of Continual Sexual Abuse of a Child, Lascivious Acts With a Minor, Tampering With a Witness, and a no-contact order violation. West Liberty Police say Resendiz had sex with a boy who was under the age of 14 on multiple occasions. At least two of the incidents allegedly occurred at Resendiz’s home in December of 2021, and photos of her kissing the boy were found on his phone.
Resendiz was also accused of violating a no-contact order in the case multiple times.
If convicted on all original counts, Resendiz would have faced a maximum prison sentence of over 300 years.
Under the plea deal, Resendiz was also given five years of probation, she must register as a sex offender, and she was fined $5,480.
