The Lisbon Central School teacher who admitted to having an affair with a student has pleaded guilty in St. Lawrence County Court to satisfy the charges against her.
33-year-old Christel C. Gravlin plead guilty today to one count of 3rd degree Rape in a deal that will see her sentenced to no more than six months in jail followed by ten years probation.
Gravlin initially plead innocent in December to Rape 3rd Degree, Criminal Sex Act 3rd Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.
Gravlin was accused of having oral sex and intercourse with a 15 year old male student on November 25th during the course of a relationship that lasted one to two weeks.
The affair came to light after an incident at a high school basketball game on November 30th, when, intoxicated, Gravlin made statements about an affair to a group of students and others who were sitting near her. Gravlin confirmed the affair in a three-page signed statement to police, attributing the affair to depression, alcohol, prescription drugs and pressure from the boy.
Gravlin, a married mother of two is a former beauty queen, having been chosen Miss St. Lawrence County Teen-Ager in 1990 at the age of 15 and was voted St. Lawrence County Dairy Princess the following year. She graduated summa cum laude from SUNY Potsdam in 2003 with a degree in literature, writing, and secondary education.
Gravlin is scheduled to be sentenced on May 5th. A guilty plea to a felony means automatic loss of her state teacher's license.
Some information from the Watertown Daily Times used in this report
