The mother of one of the three teenage boys who had sexual encounters with former Davis High School teacher Brianne Altice lamented that society often applies a double standard when a female teacher has sex with male students — and the boys are not seen as victims.
But she emphasized at Altice's sentencing hearing on Thursday that her son and the other two boys were victimized when Altice had inappropriate relationships with them. They have been damaged, she said, psychologically and emotionally.
"I can tell you, unequivocally, that these boys are victims," the tearful woman said in 2nd District Court. "They will be affected by this unlawful relationship throughout their lives."
The woman, who was not identified in court to protect her son's identity, said she wanted to tell Altice, "mother-to-mother," that the former English teacher has hurt her son and the other boys in ways that she will never know.
The woman added that she is "heartbroken" that Altice's criminal decisions will affect the defendant's own children.
"It is unfair and it is unfortunate, but we can not help wondering how much she was thinking about her children when she chose to engage sexually with ours," the woman said.
Judge Thomas Kay sentenced 36-year-old Altice to prison for up to 30 years for her crimes.
Altice had pleaded guilty in April to three counts of second-degree felony forcible sexual abuse, each carrying a one-to-15-year prison sentence.
Kay ordered that two of the sentences run concurrently to one another, with the third to run consecutively.
Kay emphasized that he was not handing down the harsh sentence "for the press," adding that he thinks the news media "are a distraction" and should not be allowed in court when someone's life and liberty are at stake.
However, he added a warning to the larger population: "I have to say to society, when a female or a male teacher does this to children, this is going to happen," noting that he has always ordered prison time for teachers convicted of having sexual relations with a student.
Kay also said he was concerned that after Altice was arrested and then freed on bail in connection with two of the victims, she continued a relationship with the third victim.
As Kay handed down the sentence, Altice — shackled and wearing an orange striped jail jumpsuit — stood still, showing little emotion. Earlier in the hearing, however, she had sobbed as she apologized to the victims and their families.
"If I could, I would personally apologize to each individual that has been affected by this," she said. "Grief fills my heart for all involved."
Altice's attorney, Edward Brass, told the judge that the inappropriate relationships stemmed from a bad marriage and his client's issues with self-esteem. He asked for jail time and probation for the woman, saying, she is "troubled" and "has problems with viewing her own worth."
"She blurred the lines between being a teacher and a friend," Brass said, adding that Altice also encouraged many young people in a positive way at the school.
But Brass also claimed that Altice was "pursued" by the boys, who made flirtatious comments to her on a daily basis.
Altice told the judge that many people who don't know her have passed judgment on her.
