Former Habersham County teacher Leslie Thacker Terrell will spend the next 16 years behind bars after a judge sentenced her for molesting a student.
Mountain Judicial Circuit Superior Court Judge Chan Caudell sentenced Terrell to a total of 30 years, with 10 to be served concurrently and four on probation. Caudell handed down the sentence after Terrell pled guilty on October 3 to two counts of child molestation.
Under the terms of her sentencing, Terrell must register as a sex offender. She also will not be allowed to communicate, work with, or reside with children under the age of 18, other than her own, while on probation. The judge also ordered Terrell to undergo evaluation and participate in a sex offender treatment program.
The court dismissed 12 other charges against Terrell including:
- 2 counts of statutory rape
- 2 counts of enticing a child for indecent purposes
- Sexual battery against a child under 16
- Influencing a witness
- Making a false statement
- Sexual contact by employee or agent in the first degree
- Exhibiting pornography to minors
- Interference with custody
- Obstruction of an officer
- Electronically furnishing obscene material to minors
On March 8, 2021, Terrell resigned from her job as a special education teacher at Habersham Ninth Grade Academy after the school system launched an investigation into text messages she sent to a student. After resigning, law enforcement said the then 34-year-old Terrell pursued a sexual relationship with the student.
Deputies took Terrell into custody on March 26, 2022. They rearrested her on May 19 of that year for violating the terms of her bond after again having sex with the student.
