01.09.2026 09:51
Amanda Leigh Quinonez, a former teacher who admitted to charges of sexually abusing her 14-year-old student in the US, broke down in tears in court as the victim's mother spoke. Quinonez, who apologized to the family, admitted to failing as a teacher, and it was noted that the child and his older brother had to change schools following the incident.
In a trial in California, USA, involving a former teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with her student, striking moments occurred. Former teacher Amanda Leigh Quinonez broke down in tears during the court hearing at Riverside Superior Court as the victim student's mother recounted the events.
Quinonez, who taught at Eleanor Roosevelt High School and also served as the water polo and swimming coach, was taken into custody in April 2022.
STUDENT'S MOTHER RECOUNTS THE EVENTS
The mother, speaking in court, described what her son went through and the day the incident came to light. She said that when she went to the baseball field to pick up her son, she tried to find out from the coaches where he was, and later learned that her child was in the administrative building.
Stating that when she went to the building, she saw her 14-year-old son sitting quietly next to a sheriff's deputy, the mother said that in the following period, she learned that a sexual relationship had occurred between teacher Quinonez and her son.
"HE SAID HE HAD TO PROTECT HER"
According to the mother's account in court, while the child admitted to the relationship, he recounted that Quinonez told him he needed to protect his teacher.
The family stated that after the incident came to light, their child went through difficult times due to the behavior of other students. It was noted that the victim child and his older brother had to leave the baseball team and transfer to another school.
FORMER TEACHER BURST INTO TEARS
It was reported that Quinonez wept in the defendant's section during the family's statements. The former teacher, in tears, apologized to the family and admitted that she had failed to fulfill her duty as a teacher. Quinonez also said she hoped her own daughter would judge her not by who she is today, but by who she will become in the future.
SHE ADMITTED THE CHARGES
In March, Quinonez admitted to charges of sexual penetration with a foreign object, providing sexually explicit material to a minor, and committing lewd acts against a child.
It was stated that the former teacher, who was free on a $50,000 bail, would be taken into custody and sent to prison on Tuesday. It was also reported that she would undergo a mental health evaluation in state prison and would appear in court again on November 10.