On June 11, Brookann Collier, the former principal of Tunnel Elementary School in Santa Maria, pleaded guilty to two counts of lewd acts and one of oral copulation with a minor.
Collier originally pleaded not guilty in April to seven counts of sex with a minor, but changed her plea to reach a deal with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s office.
Investigators say Collier began a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old girl she met while teaching at a different elementary school in 2004. The relationship is alleged to have lasted until the beginning of this year.
Collier faces one year in county jail and five years probation. She will also have to surrender her teaching credential and register as a sex offender. She will be sentenced on July 23.
When asked to comment on the plea deal, Deputy District Attorney Steven Foley said, “We thought it was an appropriate plea because she was willing to take responsibility for what she did early on in the process.”
If Collier violates any of the terms, Foley said, she could face more than four years in prison.
Following the plea, the Santa Maria-Bonita School District released a statement regarding the actions of its former employee.
“We are shocked and disappointed, and condemn Ms. Collier’s behavior and actions,” district spokeswoman Maggie White wrote in the release.
“The school district has continued to work with the Santa Maria Police Department throughout the investigation process. The district’s investigation determined that no additional incidents were reported involving Ms. Collier.”
Also according to the release, prior to entering her guilty plea, Collier resigned from her position with the school district. She has been on compulsory leave without pay since May 2009.
—Amy Asman
This article appears in Jun 18-25, 2009.