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Complaint filed against teacher

Woman allegedly had sex with student

DUDLEY- A 30-year-old Shepherd Hill Regional High School English teacher is scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Dudley District Court on charges she had a sexual relationship with a student over a nine-month period.

Amber Jennings of 110 South Shore Drive, Sturbridge, has been summoned to the court on a criminal complaint filed Friday by Dudley police. She will be charged with inducing a minor under 18 "to have unlawful sexual intercourse" and disseminating obscene matter to the youth.

A spokesman for Worcester District Attorney John J. Conte said the allegations involve a 16-year-old boy.

According to the police complaint, Ms. Jennings had a sexual relationship with the student from about Oct. 1, 2003, through July 7. Police seized a computer and a digital zoom camera as part of the investigation, according to the complaint.

Ms. Jennings joined the Shepherd Regional High School faculty in August 1997, according to Sean M. Gilrein, school superintendent of the Dudley-Charlton Regional School District.

Mr. Gilrein declined to comment, citing the ongoing police investigation.

Dudley Police Lt. Michael P. Stevens confirmed that Ms. Jennings was the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Police Department, but deferred all comments to Mr. Conte. The spokesman for the district attorney declined to comment on the investigation.

If convicted of the charge of inducing a minor to have sexual intercourse, Ms. Jennings could face not more than three years in state prison or not more than two-and-a-half years in a jail or house of correction, or a fine of up to $1,000, or both imprisonment and fine.

Conviction on the charge of disseminating obscene matter carries penalties of not more than five years in state prison or not more than two-and-a-half years in jail or house of correction or fines of $1,000 to $10,000, or both fines and imprisonment. Conviction also would require registration as a sex offender.