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Carla Paulsrud
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JS ONLINE: NEWS: WASHINGTON:
Teacher guilty of having sex with
boy
After plea deal, Paulsrud could face up to 10 years
By LAURIA LYNCH-GERMAN
lgerman@journalsentinel.com
Posted: March 27, 2003
West Bend - A high school teacher accused of having more than 50
sexual encounters with one of her students pleaded guilty Wednesday,
under a deal reached with prosecutors, to one count of sexually
assaulting the boy.
Carla Paulsrud, 31, could face up to 10 years in prison when she is
sentenced May 21. As part of the plea agreement, four other counts of
having sex with a student and a bail jumping charge were dismissed.
Prosecutors are also not recommending a prison sentence.
Her 17-year-old former student, Steven D. Lunde, is serving a 10-month
jail sentence after being convicted of several unrelated crimes last
month.
During Paulsrud's plea hearing Wednesday, Washington County Circuit
Judge Patrick Faragher asked her if she was admitting to having sex
with the student.
Paulsrud glanced at her lawyers before nodding her head and quietly
saying "Yes."
Washington County District Attorney Todd Martens said he would not be
asking for prison time. He said that both he and the defense lawyer
would be free to argue about the length of probation and any jail
term.
Faragher reminded Paulsrud that she could still go to prison.
"I am not bound by the agreement," he said. "You still face a maximum
10-year prison term and a $10,000 fine, and while I will listen to
what the lawyers have to say and I respect their opinions, I will
sentence you."
Faragher said the dismissed counts would still be considered at her
sentencing.
"I will be looking at the pattern of behavior surrounding all these
charges when I determine the sentence," he said.
The investigation into the relationship began after Lunde was arrested
on drug charges. He told investigators he was in love with Paulsrud
and that they were going to move to Colorado after he turned 18.
Lunde said that the intercourse was consensual and that Paulsrud did
not force or threaten him, according to the criminal complaint.
Both Lunde and Paulsrud were released on signature bonds after their
arrests in January. Paulsrud was ordered to have no contact with Lunde,
but the very next day, she was found in his bed by a family member in
his Town of West Bend home.
Investigators believe the relationship started in March 2002 when she
was giving him driving lessons, according to the criminal complaint.
On Wednesdays, Lunde would go to Paulsrud's former home on Wolf Drive
in West Bend and have sex while her husband was out bowling,
authorities say.
Paulsrud confirmed the relationship to investigators by saying the
student's recollections were accurate. She said Lunde was in her
English class for all of the last school year.
The student told investigators that they had sex several times in her
Dodge Durango in the parking lots of the Knights of Columbus Hall,
Cedar Campus Retirement Community and the high school.
Paulsrud resigned her teaching position with the West Bend School
District in January but engendered the ire of parents a few weeks
later when she showed up to watch the dance team she once coached
perform at a school basketball game.
Lunde entered no contest pleas to one count each of burglary and
criminal damage to property. That case stemmed from a December
vandalism spree that involved a church and the home of Paulsrud's
estranged husband. The Paulsruds are now divorced.
Update:
Carla Paulsrud, 32, was also sentenced Wednesday in
Washington County to 10 years supervision for having sex with the
student more than 50 times.
Paulsrud pleaded guilty to one count of sexual assault by school staff
in an agreement with prosecutors. Four additional charges were
dropped, but considered during sentencing.
Washington County Judge Patrick Faragher said the case is more about
trust than it is about sex.
"This isn't about sex at all. It's not about sex with a child. It's
about child abuse. It's about abuse of a student. It's about abuse of
trust," Faragher said.
Paulsrud taught emotionally disturbed students at the West Bend High
Schools and had a year-long affair with a 17-year-old student.
Before sentencing, a sobbing Paulsrud apologized for her actions. Her
attorney said Paulsrud has undergone counseling and has taken a job in
Chippewa County.
She will be free until early June and after three months in jail, will
be up for work release.
Paulsrud will be listed on the state's sex offender registry. She was
also ordered to have no contact with the victim and to not work with
teenagers. |
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