Ex-teacher pleads insanity to sex charges

CINCINNATI, July 13 (UPI) -- A former teacher at an Ohio high school has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to charges of sex and alcohol crimes involving five teenage boys.

Former Mason High School physical education teacher Stacy Schuler withdrew her "not guilty" plea to 19 charges and entered the "not guilty by reason of insanity" plea Monday, The Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

Schuler, who resigned from her job, is accused of 16 counts of sexual battery for alleged sexual contact with boys and three counts of providing alcohol to minors.

The sex charges carry up to five years in prison.

Warren County prosecutor David Fornshell said he was surprised by the change in Schuler's plea.

"It's certainly an interesting development," Fornshell said, noting Schuler previously denied the charges and now, in essence, was admitting they are true but that she should not be held legally responsible.

Akron lawyer Carmen Roberto, past president of the Ohio State Bar Association, said insanity pleas are uncommon and present their own problems.

Because the defendant is admitting the act occurred in an insanity plea, Roberto said, "you start off a little bit behind the eight-ball," making the case difficult to win.