A former Pennsylvania guidance counselor was sentenced to just seven years of probation for her relationship with a 14-year-old boy.
Kelly Ann Schutte, 36, pleaded guilty in February to corruption of minors after it was revealed she had an ongoing relationship with the teen that started during a class field trip in the fall of 2022, during which Schutte sat next to the minor on the bus, court documents stated.
Other charges of institutional sexual assault and indecent assault were dismissed as part of her sweetheart plea deal.
The intimate ordeal, which was reported to police by the student’s mother, began at Schutte’s home, the student admitted.
Schutte would also call the student to her office during school hours, resulting in missed classes at Pennridge South Middle School in Perkasie – about an hour outside of Philadelphia.
An affidavit revealed that the duo’s inappropriate relationship continued even when classes were dismissed for summer. Through apps like Canvas and Snapchat, the two kept in touch.
Their interactions also took place in her car while parked outside of a local supermarket, as well as the student’s home while his family was away, per court records.
Schutte, who appeared in court Thursday with her husband for her sentencing hearing, must also register as a sex offender for 15 years and cannot have any contact with the victim.
She is also required to avoid unsupervised contact with children, can never be employed as a school counselor again and must undergo psychosexual evaluation and comply with all treatment recommendations, Montgomery County Court Judge Wendy Rothstein ruled.
Kelly Ann Schutte, 36, was sentenced to just seven years probation after she pleaded guilty to having a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old student at Pennridge South Middle School in Perkasie, Pennsylvania
Schutte would call the student to her office during school hours, resulting in missed classes. (Pictured: Pennridge South Middle School)
‘As a guidance counselor, you were in a position of trust. You breached that trust on multiple occasions. You were supposed to offer guidance, and instead, you sexually molested a student,’ Rothstein told Schutte.
Their relationship initially came to light after one of Schutte’s relatives walked in on her and the teenage boy kissing, per the legal filing.
He then went on to tell his parents about his relationship with the disgraced guidance counselor. Police also discovered one of her earrings in the boy’s bedroom, records showed.
At the time, the Pennridge School District released a statement revealing that Schutte was placed on administrative leave.
The statement said that the district has been aware of the allegations since July of 2023, which prompted the decision to place the counselor on immediate administrative leave pending the investigation’s outcome.
In response to the charges filed against Schutte, the school said: ‘While we refrain from making premature judgments about the actions of the staff member facing prosecution, it is crucial to reiterate the district’s stance against any inappropriate contact between a Pennridge School District employee and a student. Such behavior will NOT be tolerated.’
During her hearing in February, Rothstein turned to the victim and praised him for coming forward.
‘You are strong, brave and courageous. You are not to blame for anything that happened here. You did nothing wrong,’ Rothstein said.
Their interactions also took place in her car while parking outside of a local supermarket and the student’s home while his family was away. (Pictured: Schutte with an unidentified male at the 2nd annual Pennridge South Middle School color run)
The teen’s mother also made a statement in court, sharing that Schutte’s betrayal ‘jolted’ her family.
‘When someone, who we as a society have deemed trustworthy, breaks that trust, the ramifications are great and far-reaching. We as a family have been jolted by this offense,’ the mother told the court.
‘The cost to our child has been substantial. Peace was stolen along with innocence and normalcy. The effects on both his reputation and daily school life are noticeable and inescapable.
‘No sentence can right this wrong or undo the damage that has resulted. But consequences are essential in order for justice to prevail.’
DailyMail.com contacted Schutte’s attorney and the Pennridge School District for comment.
