Sixth-grade teacher hauled away in handcuffs as she is sentenced to 15 years in prison over disturbing sexual abuse of teenage girl

An Ohio ex-middle school teacher who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a teenage girl has learned her fate.

Stefanie Erin Kellenberger, 41, was on Monday sentenced to 15 years behind bars for having a sexual relationship with a minor.

As the judge read off her sentence, the convicted sex offender appeared stoic. At the conclusion of the hearing, she was placed in handcuffs and escorted from the Richland courtroom.

The former Shelby Middle School English teacher began grooming the young victim when she was just 13 years old, according to prosecutors.

Kellenberger, whose birth was on Tuesday, began having sex with the teen when she turned 14.

The abuse continued until the girl reached ‘the age of consent,’ which is 16 in the state.

All the inappropriate relations took place in Kellenberger’s home from February 2020 until October 2021, protecutors said.

Kellenberger was placed on paid administrative leave from Shelby City Schools in February 2024, after Superintendent Michael Browning received a call from the Mansfield Police Department that ‘allegations were made’ against the educator.

Stefanie Erin Kellenberger (pictured), 41, was was placed in handcuffs and escorted from the Richland courtroom

All the inappropriate relations took place in Kellenberger’s (pictured) home from February 2020 until October 2021

She was then indicted on the criminal charges in September 2024, and resigned from Shelby City Schools the following month.

Kellenberger admitted to the despicable relationship – pleading guilty to to four counts of third-degree felony sexual battery and 17 counts of third-degree felony unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in August.

Her sentence includes the possibility for judicial release after 10 years, as long as she does not re-offend and makes no contact with the victim, Richland Source reported.

As per her sentencing agreement, Kellenberger must be registered as a Tier III sex offender and re-register every 90 days for the remainder of her life upon her release from prison.

‘Don’t let anybody be confused, this is a 15-year prison sentence with the hope that you come back in 10 years and you’ve been a model inmate,’ Judge Brent Robinson told Kellenberger in the Richland County courtroom.

‘[That] you’ve done everything you were supposed to do, you haven’t got in any trouble at all.’

Another condition following her prison stint is that she must permanently surrender her teaching license. She will also spend five years on parole.

Kellenberger (pictured) admitted to the despicable relationship – pleading guilty to to four counts of third-degree felony sexual battery and 17 counts of third-degree felony unlawful sexual conduct with a minor in August

Kellenberger had apologized to her victim, who worked as a babysitter for her daughter, in a letter after she pleaded guilty to the charges against her.

‘I know that during this time, you were just a child and I was an adult in a position of trust,’ Kellenberger said. ‘I’m responsible for everything that happened between us.

‘I put you in a position that no 14 or 15-year-old should ever have to be in. I’m so sorry for all of the emotional pain and hurt that I’ve caused you.

‘I hope that my guilty pleas and this sentence will provide some degree of closure for you as you move on with your life.’