A former Texas teacher and coach could receive probation and a $1,000 fine after pleading guilty to sexually assaulting two teens.
At the suggestion of prosecutors, 19th State District Judge Thomas West could sentence Shelby Dawn Lashombe to deferred probation and the $1,000 fine after she pleaded guilty to two counts of improper relationship between educator and student.
Lashombe was facing up to 40 years in prison prior to accepting a plea deal from the prosecution, which called for the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office to dismiss two counts of sexual assault of a child.
Now, a pre-sentence investigation will be carried out by probation officers, which the judge will refer to as he considers whether or not the plea deal should be accepted.
Lashombe will be sentenced on June 26.
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Lashombe resigned from her position at Valley Mills High School when the allegations first surfaced and has since surrendered her teacher certification.
The victims were students at West High School and Axtell High School at the time of the assaults.
Neither of the boys was ever enrolled at Valley Mills High School, where Lashombe was teaching at the time of her arrest.
Lashombe was arrested after police said they received a tip about a teacher working at the school who was spotted kissing a 16-year-old boy. The same tip claimed she later sexually assaulted the boy, according to police.
Investigators then spoke to the teen who told them he had been sexually assaulted on more than one occasion by the teacher, and that Lashombe was aware at all times he was under the age of consent.
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Lashombe was brought in for questioning and admitted to detectives that she sexually assaulted the boy over a six-month period.
“Shelby stated she had been friends with the juvenile’s family for years, knowing his age and that he was a student,” reads an arrest affidavit shared with Us Weekly.
Lashombe also admitted to sexually assaulting another boy who was under the age of 17, the affidavit said.
The second boy attended a different school than the first victim, and it was unclear if they knew each other.
It was also unclear how Lashombe met the second teen.
Deferred probation is a special form of community supervision that can lead to one’s case being dismissed. A final judgement on guilt is not rendered, and a conviction can be avoided if the defendant complies with the terms and conditions of their probation.
If you know of a young person who is being exploited or is the victim of a crime, you are urged to report it to your local FBI field office by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI. Tips can also be left at tips.fbi.gov
