Ex-instructor gets probation on sex charge

A former Fountain Lake teacher arrested in 2012 pleaded guilty Monday to a felony sex-assault charge involving a student and was sentenced to five years of probation.

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Timothy Brian O'Shields, 36, was originally charged with second-degree sexual assault, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. He pleaded guilty in Garland County Circuit Court to an amended charge of attempted second-degree sexual assault.

An additional three counts of child pornography were also withdrawn by prosecutors. In addition to the probation, O'Shields was fined $1,000, ordered to pay $670 in court costs and is banned from any future contact with the victim.

O'Shields, who was set to stand trial on the charges Tuesday, must also register as a sex offender, deputy prosecutor Joe Graham said Tuesday.

Graham said the relationship between O'Shields and the 17-year-old victim involved "a lot of conversations, texting, Facebook messages and talking about meeting up" in ongoing communication that included sexual offers, a photo of male genitalia and questions about her experiences.

He was also accused of kissing her on two different occasions and grabbed her buttocks while at school, once in his classroom and once in the room of another teacher in a secluded area of the school.

Graham said Tuesday that O'Shields had always denied touching the victim, but admitted to the text messages and attempting to meet up with her.

Metro on 06/13/2014

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