Monday, July 20, 2015

Former Joplin High School teacher sentenced to four years for sex crimes

Former Joplin High School communication arts teacher Jessica Low was sentenced this morning in Jasper County Circuit Court to four years in prison for statutory rape and four years for sexual contact with a student.

Despite that, Low, 33, may be freed as soon as four months from now. She was enrolled in the Sexual Offenders Assessment Unit program, which means after she completes the required program, she could be released after 120 days of shock time.

Low was arrested shortly after the school day ended at the 9-10 Center (the former Memorial Middle School) May 29, 2014. Low had taught at JHS for two years.

The probable cause statement is printed below:

I, Det. Chip Root, knowing that false statements on this form are punishable by law, state that the facts contained herein are true:

I have probable cause to believe that on May 25, 2014, at (address omitted), Jessica Lynn Low, a white female, committed one or more criminal offenses of statutory rape in the second degree, statutory sodomy in the second degree, furnishing pornographic material to a minor.

On May 28, 2014, it was reported by the Joplin School District that they had received an anonymous complaint that Jessica Low, a Joplin High School teacher, had sent nude images of herself to a Joplin 10th grade student, identified as 16-year-old "IF (date of birth omitted) via cellular telephone.

School district staff reported the incident to the Joplin Police Department. The affiant contacted IF's father regarding the complaint. The father admitted that he had witnessed the nude images of Jessica Low on his son's cell phone on May 25, 2014.

The father further stated that he had spoken to his son and his son's 16-year-old male friend about Low sending the nude pictures of herself. The 16-year-old friend is identified as "MS" (date of birth omitted) . MS volunteered that he had also observed the nude images of Low and had also had sexual intercourse with Low.

IF also admitted that he had witnessed the nude images of Low and also had sexual intercourse with Low. IF's father admitted that he had witnessed the nude images of Jessica Low on his son's cell phone while at their Joplin residence.

He advised he and his wife confronted Low by telephone and she subsequently admitted to sending the nude images to their son. The father further stated he recorded the images sent by Low using his cell phone, which was later examined with his permission. Several nude images of a white female were observed including photos of the subject's breasts and close-up photos of her vagina and some images depict the use of a sexual device.

On May 29, 2014, the affiant witnessed a child forensic interview at the Joplin Children's Center of IF. During the interview, IF declared that he had received 25 to 40 nude images of Jessica Low via cell phone text messages and admitted they had discussed meeting for sex. He stated the images depicted her breasts, as well as her vagina and said she was masturbating during the images. The child advised Low had sent him the images on Wednesday of last week, May 28, 2014.

On May 29, 2014, the affiant witnessed a child forensic interview of MS at the Joplin Children's Center. During the child's interview, MS disclosed on Monday, May 19, 2014, Low followed MS home from school and the two had vaginal intercourse on the living room floor of his residence. He said on Tuesday, May 20, 2014, Low again followed him home from school and she performed oral sex on him and they also had sexual intercourse a second time

4 comments:

  1. Anonymous1:17 PM

    Is this the same kind of sentence that a man would get?
    Will she be a registered sex offender for the rest of her life?
    Will she be on parole? How long?
    If she is a registered sex offender, can she have and raise children?

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  2. Anonymous1:53 PM

    This is so upsetting. I used to be friends with her years back. It breaks my heart that she made such horrible choices. Sending prayers and positive vibes to her daughter.
    *SMS Room229*

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  3. Anonymous4:04 PM

    @1:17 I don't know about the sentence, but I'm pretty sure she'll be a registered sex offender for the rest of her life. As for the kids she already has I imagine they'll stay with the father or next of kin, hopefully they don't end up in foster care.

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  4. You just know a man would have got 20 years

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