This report contains descriptions of sexual behavior.
FORT WORTH -- A former Kennedale High School student testified he had sexual intercourse with his English teacher five times in the spring of 2011, four of which involved group sex with other male students.Jurors were shown video this morning of the sexual encounter, which allegedly showed Brittni Colleps engaged in group sex with four of her students.In all, Colleps, 28, is accused of having sexual relations with five students.The mother of three faces up to 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine on each of the five charges of improper relationship between an educator and student.Colleps’ husband is in the military and was stationed outside the Metroplex during the time she is accused of having the sexual encounters.Colleps’ attorney, Lex Johnston, did not give an opening statement, but as the trial resumed this afternoon, he accused two jurors of misconduct for having lunch with two courtroom spectators. Both jurors said said they were very careful not to discuss the case.State District Judge Ruben Gonzalez said he would instruct jurors to not have lunch with the public and allow the trial to go forward.Earlier in the day, one former student, going by the pseudonym “Aaron,” testified that Colleps, his senior English teacher, had first text-messaged him in April 2011, asking him what time a baseball game started.Aaron said, however, the exchange of text messages continued, later turning sexual in nature and including pictures and video of a nude Colleps. Aaron said the two eventually made plans to meet at Colleps’ Arlington house to have sex.Aaron, now 20, testified that he met with Colleps at her house to watch a movie and that the two then engaged in sexual intercourse.He said he later went to the home four other times over the next couple of weeks, where he engaged in group sex with Colleps with other male students; the last time it involved him, Colleps and three other students. He said neither Colleps’ husband nor her young children were present during any of the sexual encounters.Aaron testified that during that last meeting, one of the students shot video of the sexual encounter using Aaron’s cellphone. Aaron testified that Colleps remarked, “Don’t put the light in my eyes” as the other student, known by the pseudonym “Jordan.” began filming.Johnston had objected to the admission of the video as evidence, arguing that it was illegally made because Colleps was unaware she was being videotaped and had not given her consent.Gonzalez, however, overruled Johnston’s objections and jurors were allowed to watch the video before breaking for lunch. The jury watched the video on a screen that was not visible to the audience.Kennedale High Principal Rita Whatley, the state’s first witness, testified that upon learning of a possibly inappropriate relationship, school officials on May 11, 2011 met first with one of the students allegedly involved, then with Colleps.She said Colleps initially denied having inappropriate relations with the student but text messages from the teacher’s cellphone number were found on the student’s phone.Whatley said the teacher was then immediately suspended and later resigned.Colleps had stood mute earlier this morning when asked by Gonzalez how she pleads to the counts of each individual charge, causing the judge to enter her plea as “not guilty.”Deanna Boyd, 817-390-7655; Twitter: @deannaboyd
