Former teachers formally charged in student-sex case
GRETNA- Two former high school teachers accused of having sex with a 16-year-old student have been formally charged.
The Jefferson Parish District Attorney's Office charged 33-year-old Shelley Dufresne Monday with two counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile, while 25-year-old Rachel Respess faces one count of failure to report the commission of certain felonies.
Respess was arrested with Dufresne in September 2014 after being accused of inviting a student to an apartment for a sexual encounter.
Respess' attorney, Jeffery Smith, said Monday Respess will plead not guilty.
Earlier this year, Dufresne agreed to a plea deal that will allow her to avoid prison time in St. Charles Parish or having to register as a sex offender. Her attorney could not be reached by the newspaper for comment.