Was She A Criminal Or Was Her True Love A Victim Of The Law?

Mary Kay Letourneau, thirty-year old teacher grabbed headlines in 1997 when she pleaded guilty to the criminal act of statutory rape (rape of a child) of 12 year-old student Vili Fualaau, who Letourneau said was her 'soul mate'. At the time Fualaau's father was serving a prison sentence for armed robbery.

Letourneau openly declared at her trial she knew had done wrong and asked for help. She served three months of her sentence and was then placed on probation. She had to enroll in a three-year treatment program for sex offenders. Yet, it was only one month later that she was again caught having sexual relations with the teenager. It appeared the couple had plans to skip out of the country.

Her probation was revoked and Letourneau was hastily returned to jail, where it was discovered she was pregnant with the student's second child. Letourneau was placed in six months of solitary confinement, in November 1999, for trying to smuggle letters to Fualaau.

Fualaau's family sued the Highline School and city of Des Moines, Washington, in 2002 for emotional suffering, lost wages and the costs of rearing his two children. He said the school had not protected him from Letourneau. The jury sided with the defendant’s lawyer in that 'Nothing would keep Letourneau and Fualaau apart'.

Letourneau finished her 7.5 year sentence, the maximum that could be imposed for child rape, with no parole given for good behaviour. Superior Court Jude Linda Lau, in 2004, raised the restriction she had placed the couple under, allowing them to see each other once more. The couple were married on May 20th 2005, in a tightly guarded ceremony, which brought an illicit seduction to a close. The two daughters acting as flower girls. The television show Entertainment Tonight was given exclusive rights to the wedding.

The four children from Letourneau's first marriage remained living with their father. Her two younger children, under the ruling of the court, still live with their grandmother.

John Schmitz, Mary's father, also caused a scandal when his long-term affair with a former student was revealed. He fathered two children to the student. Mary also went through marital problems when her first husband, Steve Letourneau indulged in numerous extramarital affairs.

Letourneau and Fualaau not only sold sell their wedding photos, but authored a book about their 'love affair'. Now the couple are hosting a 'Hot for Teacher Night', at a Seattle bar.

Letourneau will be always registered as a sex offender.