A former high school teacher will spend 13 years in prison after pleading guilty to having sex with a student up to 30 times, including once on a school trip to Washington, DC.
Heather Hare, 33, was a family consumer sciences teacher at Bryant High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. Her relationship with the student occurred between August 2021 and April 2022.
Investigators discovered that Hare had sex with the student in his car, at his home and even in his classroom. The student was a senior at the time. They met for the first time and she was assigned personalized counseling.
At one point, the teacher confessed to the teenager that she fantasized about them having sex in the house she shared with her husband and young daughter.
The couple’s relationship grew through messages on Instagram and Snapchat. In April 2022, they have sex during a trip to the country’s capital.
Exactly 12 months later, Hare was arrested on charges of first-degree sexual assault.
Before her arrest, Hare was beloved by her students. They even recorded a farewell video of her when her class was temporarily suspended during the pandemic.
Heather Hare, 33, who rose to fame with a viral student farewell video and appeared on Good Morning America in 2020, admitted to having sex with a high school senior between 20 and 30 times.
Hare had sexual relations with the victim, a student at Bryant High School in Arkansas, 20 to 30 times during the 2021-2022 school year, including on a field trip to Washington, DC.
“It hurt me to see her so upset because she is so helpful and always so kind,” said student Bella Watkins. Good morning america in 2020. ‘Seeing her cry was horrible. I said, “I have to do something for her.”
Her 12 students, including graduating seniors, shared selfie images as they said goodbye to Hare when the course she taught was suspended during the pandemic.
‘Hello Mrs Hare, I just want to thank you for literally everything you did for me this year. “You helped me get through a lot of things and you helped me get through so many problems,” one student said in the video through tears.
“I think the video touched her a lot. Everyone who knows her loves her,” said Watkins, then a sophomore.
“It was nice to see that a lot of people care about (Mrs. Hare) the same way I care about her,” another student said.
Hare told the outlet at the time, “It breaks my heart because a lot of kids look for a break in their day and enjoy coming to my class.” The last unit was sewing. We had so many fun projects (planned) and we couldn’t do them.’
Hare is married and has a five-year-old daughter. Her family also appeared in a local media, ABC7, in October 2022, when the little girl went viral for her Halloween costumes.
Before his arrest and resignation from high school in April of last year, Hare was loved by his students. They even recorded a farewell video when his class was temporarily suspended during the pandemic.
Hare received national attention when he appeared on Good Morning America in 2020 for a surprise video of his former students.
Hare turned herself in in April 2023 after several posts were made on TikTok and Snapchat alleging her relationship with a student, according to local reports.
Hare and her husband prepared a dozen costumes and held photo shoots for their daughter before Halloween.
In federal court, Hare pleaded guilty to one count of interstate/foreign travel for prostitution/coercive sexual activity and one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.
In an Arkansas court, Hare separately pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree sexual assault.
“Teachers who have sexual relations with their underage students should take note of today’s sentencing for Ms. Hare, which reflects the consequences of abusing their position of trust and taking advantage of this minor’s vulnerability to repeatedly engage in sexual activities.” illegal sexual acts,” the federal prosecutor said. Jonathan Ross said.
“Our office will continue to hold those in a position of trust who prey on children accountable and will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law, as demonstrated by Judge Rudofsky who sentenced Ms. Hare to 13 years in federal prison.”
After completing her sentence, Hare will be placed on a lifetime of supervised release.