Ex Porter High School Teacher Sentenced to 7.5 Years In Prison

PORTER, TX -- Rhiannon Petty, age 43, pled guilty to the second degree felony offense of Improper Relationship between an Educator and Student in the 435th District Court. On May 20. 2021, the Honorable Judge Patty Maginnis sentenced Petty to an agreed plea of 7.5 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice - Institutional Division.

At the time of the crime, Petty worked at Porter High School as a Health Sciences teacher. and the victim in this case was one of Petty's students. To carry out her abusive relationship with the victim, Petty would write notes for the victim, excusing the victim from missing other classes so Petty could spend time with her. Petty would also communicate with the victim on a cell phone that she provided to the victim. Numerous text messages were exchanged in which Petty professed her love for the victim. In the forensic interview, the victim detailed multiple instances of sexual abuse that occurred at Petty's home and in Petty,'s car. The victim also stated that Petty gave the victim a 'promise ring.' At the time of these criminal contacts, the victim was 17 years old. Detective Cory Arnold with the Pct. 4 Constable's Office conducted a thorough investigation, which corroborated the victim's outcry of atruse. and included interviews of students and faculty.

Prosecutor Lora Beckman: 'When a teacher violates the community's trust by victimizing a student, he or she must be held accountable. We rely on teachers to mentor and nurture our children, and we simply will not tolerate abuse and manipulation of this nature. We want to especially thank the hard work and professionalism of the Pct 4 Constable's Office. Their skilled efforts ensured justice was done in this case.'

District Attorney Brett Ligon: -Our children deserve the protection of the law. In this instance, this teacher used her trusted position to take advantage of a young person, and those actions have rightly resulted in a prison sentence. I sincerely hope that other teachers who are considering this kind of predatory behavior will take note and think again. If they do not, prison waits for them as well.'