Grandmasdiary.com

RENSSELAER COUNTY-A former Rensselaer County psychologist admitted in County Court Thursday that she had a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old male she had been appointed to counsel.

Jennifer A. Hastings, 33, of Sand Lake, an ex-employee of the Rensselaer County Unified Family Services, pleaded guilty to the entire indictment against her which included counts of  second degree rape, a felony, along with engaging in a criminal act, endangering the welfare of a child and third degree sexual abuse for having sexual contact with her patient on several occasions including in her car, area motels and her Sand Lake residence.

Her trial was scheduled to begin next week.

She faces up to 20 years in state prison when she’s sentenced in December.  Last month she had rejected a plea deal that would have sent her to prison for up to five years. She remains free on $20,000 bail until her sentencing.

 She had been employed by the county since 2003 and has since resigned from the $52,426 a year job.

State Police said that the school resource officer at Tamarac High School in Brunswick became suspicious when Hastings picked up the teenager from the school and claimed to be his sister. An BCI investigation revealed that she was the boy’s court-appointed counselor and that she had allegedly moved the counseling sessions from the school to her car in the school parking lot. Police said that the teen has admitted having sexual intercourse with Hastings during September and October last year.

Although there are no allegations that the sexual contact was forced, the age of consent in New York State is 17.  10-10-08

Source: northcountrygazette.org