Teacher, pregnant by minor, to leave jail

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SAN DIEGO, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- A California teacher, jailed for statutory rape and pregnant by her minor former student, said she hopes the father will stay in their lives when he turns 18.

Kelly McKenzy Watson, 35, was arrested for statutory rape on Aug. 9, but Wednesday it was publicly revealed she is seven months pregnant with her victim's child, and she will be released from prison to have the baby in April, U-T San Diego reported Saturday.

Watson, who had been a special education teacher at New Haven Youth and Family Services, a Vista facility for boys with behavioral and emotions issues, said she developed strong feelings for her victim, 17, when he stayed in her San Diego apartment last year after he had a falling out with his parents.

Watson worked at Oceanside High School in Oceanside at the time of her arrest.

Watson pleaded guilty in November to the felony of having unlawful intercourse with a minor more than three years younger. She was not required to register as a sex offer. She received three years of probation and was ordered to serve jail time, but she will be released early for the birth and to return to her family home in Bakersfield.

Police first contacted Watson and the boy on July 28 in response to a possible domestic violence incident. The teen told police he had pushed Watson.

The words, "I want to have a baby with you," were written on the apartment's bathroom mirror, police said.

But Watson said the pregnancy wasn't planned and was a "miracle" because she had been unable to become pregnant with her husband before they separated.

The judge prohibited Watson from contacting the boy, but said he can be present for the child's birth.