Crime & Safety
Teacher Gets 3 Years For Having Oral Sex With Student: Report
Linda Harden, 22, previously plead guilty to sexual assault for engaging in sex acts with underage students.

A former substitute teacher at a prominent North Jersey high school was sentenced to three years in prison Monday for having oral sex with a 16-year-old student and sending sexually explicit photos of herself to another.
Linda Hardan, 22, had pleaded guilty in June to sexting and engaging in sexual activity with the students. She served as a substitute teacher at Manchester Regional High School for one of the district's science teacher when the sexual activity took place.
Related: Substitute Teacher Charged With Sexually Assaulting 16-Year-Old
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Harden was indicted in June 2015 on two counts of sexual assault, four counts of endangering the welfare of a child, and criminal sexual contact. She faced a five-year prison term thanks to a deal with the prosecutor's office, but Passaic County Superior Court Judge Miguel de la Carrera imposed the lighter three-year sentence instead, NorthJersey.com reported.
Before imposing the sentence, de la Carrera said that Harden had a strict upbringing and stunted emotional development as a result, according to the report.
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"She had classmates and friends, but somehow, perhaps because of limitations on her dating life, she didn't find the proper outlet among males of her own age," the judge said in the report. "She did not learn how to interact with guys her age."
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Photo: Linda Hardan, 22 — Passaic County Prosecutor's Office
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