A former Lancaster County teacher has been sentenced to at least 20 years behind bars for have sex with two students. But is that too harsh?
Christy Smith was convicted of having consensual sex with a 15 and a 17-year-old boy, one of whom was her student. Many think spending 20 to 40 years for that is too harsh. But the judge who handed it down says the punishment fits the crime.
“It’s disturbing when there’s anyone who is a position of trust that is in a position where they are dealing with young people on a regular basis,” explained Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker. “When that trust is violated that is a concern.”
Wednesday, Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker made that concern known when he sentenced former McCaskey High School teacher Christy Smith to 20 to 40 years in prison. The former English teacher, who had no previous record, was convicted of having sex with a 15-year-old student of hers and a 17-year-old who went to another school.
Smith was convicted of 18 sex crimes, four of which had mandatory sentences.
“I felt that parents need to know that when they send their kids off to school they are going to be protected and safe while they are there,” Lancaster County Judge Reinaker continued.
But now, some say that sentence was too harsh. Jerry Sandusky for example was given a minimum of 30 years for raping 10 young boys.
Wayne Beamsderfer, of Lancaster City, raped a four-year-old girl and received the same sentence as Smith. Another city man, Todd Gilbert, was sentenced to just 8 years for raping a 12-year-old.
“I could only compare my sentences to what I’ve done in other cases,” commented Reinaker. “I don’t look at what other judges do with cases I don’t have any familiarity with. All I know is what I’ve had before me.”
Judge Reinaker in court during the sentence was also very critical of The Lancaster School District for not being proactive in stopping Smith. We called the school for a comment, but never received one.
Christy Smith was convicted of having consensual sex with a 15 and a 17-year-old boy, one of whom was her student. Many think spending 20 to 40 years for that is too harsh. But the judge who handed it down says the punishment fits the crime.
“It’s disturbing when there’s anyone who is a position of trust that is in a position where they are dealing with young people on a regular basis,” explained Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker. “When that trust is violated that is a concern.”
Wednesday, Lancaster County Judge Dennis Reinaker made that concern known when he sentenced former McCaskey High School teacher Christy Smith to 20 to 40 years in prison. The former English teacher, who had no previous record, was convicted of having sex with a 15-year-old student of hers and a 17-year-old who went to another school.
Smith was convicted of 18 sex crimes, four of which had mandatory sentences.
“I felt that parents need to know that when they send their kids off to school they are going to be protected and safe while they are there,” Lancaster County Judge Reinaker continued.
But now, some say that sentence was too harsh. Jerry Sandusky for example was given a minimum of 30 years for raping 10 young boys.
Wayne Beamsderfer, of Lancaster City, raped a four-year-old girl and received the same sentence as Smith. Another city man, Todd Gilbert, was sentenced to just 8 years for raping a 12-year-old.
“I could only compare my sentences to what I’ve done in other cases,” commented Reinaker. “I don’t look at what other judges do with cases I don’t have any familiarity with. All I know is what I’ve had before me.”
Judge Reinaker in court during the sentence was also very critical of The Lancaster School District for not being proactive in stopping Smith. We called the school for a comment, but never received one.