Former teacher gets 20 years in prison for sex with student

Teacher will be supervised as sex offender for 10 years

Dennis Turner, the former Brevard teacher convicted of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with an underage student, awaits sentencing Wednesday. (Photo: Tim Shortt / FLORIDA TODAY)

VIERA, Fla. – A judge on Wednesday sentenced Dennis Turner to 20 years in state prison and 10 years supervision as a sex offender. Turner, a former drama teacher, was convicted of having an inappropriate sexual relationship with an underage student between 2003 and 2006.

Turner pleaded guilty to charges of sexual contact with an underage girl while he was a drama teacher at Edgewood Junior/Senior High School in Merritt Island. The victim later said she and Turner engaged in sexual acts almost daily, both on the school campus and at the girl's home.

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At Turner's sentencing, several former students took to the stand to offer character statements.

"I owe him so much," one woman told the judge before her voice trailed off in tears.

Turner, sitting at the defense table, told the judge that he was sorry for his actions and that he would not do it again. "I made a mistake," he said. "You can't change who you are."


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