Dad of Student Who Had Inappropriate Relationship With Teacher Lets Her Off the Hook, Son Is ‘Thriving’

A Texas teacher who previously pleaded guilty to charges related to an inappropriate relationship with two underage boys was given a sweetheart deal after one of the boys’ father testified that everything was fine.

KWTX reports that, in April, Shelby Dawn Lashombe pleaded guilty to two counts of improper relationship between educator and student, second-degree felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison. As part of a plea agreement accepted by a judge on September, 25, the guilty pleas mean that the District Attorney dropped two counts of sexual assault of a child. She was placed on deferred probation for six years, fined $1,000, will spend four weekends in jail and will spend 60 days working on a county prisoner work detail, but not while in custody.

Lashombe, 25, was taken into custody after someone reported seeing her kissing a 16-year-old boy. The boy confirmed they had a physical relationship and she later admitted to having a similar relationship with a different underage boy. However, although she was working as a coach and teacher at the time, neither boy was a student at her school. As a result, the outlet reports her attorney argued that she did not exercise any power or influence over the two boys and noted that they initiated contact with her on social media.

Judge Thomas West of the 19th State District Court approved the plea agreement, stating that he likely would have handed down a harsher sentence had it not been for testimony from one of the boys’ father and therapist.

The dad stated that, although his son is in counseling, he is not traumatized by what happened. He noted the teen is getting good grades in school, performing well on the football team and has already been accepted to colleges. He reportedly described him as “thriving” and noted he does not feel victimized. He said Lashombe should not go to jail or become a felon. He was not the only one.

KWTX reports that, at one point in the hearing, the judge noted that there were a lot of people in the room. When he was informed they were all supporters of Lashombe, he asked everyone to raise their hand if they were there in support of her. Everyone but the boy’s mother and two people she was with reportedly raised their hands.

The boy’s mother — who is divorced from the man who gave the testimony — was the only one arguing that he was impacted by the incident. She said he suffers from anxiety and depression and has been withdrawn from her and other family members. He stopped going to Catholic Mass and didn’t want to go to his high school prom.

In deferred probation cases, there is no final judgment of guilt and the defendant is able to avoid a felony conviction if they comply with the terms of the probation.