This report contains descriptions of sexual behavior.
FORT WORTH — The sexually explosive trial of a former Kennedale High School teacher resumed Thursday with more students telling of the inappropriate relationships they had with defendant Brittni Colleps before the prosecution and defense rested their cases.Colleps is accused of having sex with five of her students — including four at once — last year while she was a teacher and coach at Kennedale High. All the students were 18 or older.If convicted, Colleps, a 28-year-old married mother of three, could be sentenced to the maximum 20 years in prison and a $10,000 fine on each of five charges of an improper relationship between an educator and student.All three former students who testified Thursday told jurors that they did not consider themselves victims and did not want to see their former English teacher prosecuted.Arlington police Detective Jason Houston testified that charges were filed because “18 or not, it’s a crime” for a teacher to have sex with her students.The only emotion Colleps showed came Thursday afternoon after prosecutors Elizabeth Beach and Tim Rodgers rested their case.Standing at the defense table with the jury out of the courtroom, Colleps was asked by her attorney, Lex Johnston, whether the state had ever offered her a plea bargain.She answered no.She then began crying as she indicated that she never wanted the case to go to trial, or her former students to have to testify. After Colleps indicated that she would not testify, Johnston rested his case without presenting any evidence.Closing arguments are scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Friday.‘I didn’t want to get her in trouble’The first former student to testify Thursday told jurors that his sexual relationship with Colleps began with little fanfare.The 19-year-old, who is using the pseudonym Richard, testified that he had never exchanged texts with Colleps but had simply gone to her Arlington home twice with friends and that they all engaged in sexual conduct.Former students Mark and Aaron testified Tuesday that their sexual relationships with Colleps began with the exchange of text messages that quickly turned sexual.Richard testified that he did not have intercourse with Colleps but that she performed oral sex on him both times.Richard said he does not consider himself a victim and was “happy” to be at Colleps’ house.A student identified as “Jordan” testified that he learned from his friend Mark that Colleps was having sex with students.“I just was amazed,” said Jordan, now 20.Jordan testified that he went to Colleps’ house twice and engaged in group sex and that he recorded the last encounter using Aaron’s phone.He said that from the start, the students discussed having to keep quiet about their activities because they didn’t want Colleps to get in trouble.And yet, Jordan testified, he was called into the school office May 11, 2011, and questioned about it by school officials. He said he initially denied the relationship, not out of embarrassment, but because “I didn’t want to get her in trouble.”“I was trying to save her,” Jordan testified.Under cross-examination by Johnston, Jordan denied that Colleps told him to stop filming the encounter.‘Keeping it on the low’Johnston and fellow defense attorney Cynthia Fitch tried unsuccessfully to prevent the recording from being entered into evidence, arguing to state District Judge Ruben Gonzalez that Colleps was unaware that it was being made and had not given her consent. Jurors were shown the graphic video Tuesday.The final witness for the state Thursday was John, now 19, who testified that he had first gone with Colleps to a Texas Rangers baseball game and that nothing sexual occurred.But John said he went repeatedly to Colleps’ house with friends, and at least once alone, and engaged in sexual conduct with her.During one of those times, John testified, Colleps cooked the students spaghetti, then showed them sex toys — some of which lighted up — and modeled some lingerie.He said the friends went into the back yard with Colleps, where they played a game of truth and dare.John testified that after Jordan was dared to have sex with Colleps, all the students eventually made their way into her bedroom, where they had sex with her.John testified that the group had discussed “keeping it on the low” so that Colleps wouldn’t get in trouble.Under cross-examination by Johnston, John acknowledged that he did not want to be in court testifying against Colleps.When Johnston asked what John believes should happen to Colleps, he replied, “Me personally, I wouldn’t say jail time.”Deanna Boyd, 817-390-7655Twitter: @deannaboydHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
