Former Parsippany Teacher Admits To Sexting Student: Report

PARSIPPANY, NJ— A former Parsippany Hills High School Teacher has pled guilty to sexting an underage student, ending a multi-year legal saga.

Jenna Leahey admitted guilt on Tuesday, just as jury selection was beginning for an impending trial, the Daily Record reported. She pled guilty to one count of endangering the welfare of a child by engaging in conduct that would debauch or impair the morals of a minor.

She had previously tried to have the child endangerment charges on a technicality, as Patch reported.

Leahey had a physical relationship with a then-16 year old student, and the two regularly sexted (sending sexually explicit text messages).

In exchange for pleading guilty, prosecutors recommended Leahey be sentenced to five years in prison, the Daily Record reported. She'll be sentenced in March.

The victim, who is now 19, sued Leahey in civil court as well, Patch reported.

The former teacher was indicted on two counts of second degree endangering the welfare of a child; one count of second degree sexual assault; one count of second degree official misconduct; and three counts of fourth degree criminal sexual contact.

Leahy and the student began exchanging “explicit text messages” and the teacher sent “sexually explicit pictures of herself” to the student, Morris County Prosecutor Fredric Knapp said.

Authorities were made aware of the situation when the student allegedly told another school staff member about the relationship.