FORT WAYNE, Ind. — A former religious education teacher at a Catholic parish has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for molesting three young boys and a teen with mental disabilities.
Michelle VanMeter, 35, was sentenced in Allen Superior Court on two counts of child molesting and one count each of sexual misconduct with a minor and sexual battery. She pleaded guilty in January.
VanMeter, who formerly taught at St. Jude Catholic Parish in Fort Wayne, was arrested in September in connection with sexual encounters she had with a friend’s three sons from June 2006 to April 2007.
VanMeter previously admitted in court to molesting a then-13-year-old boy, as well as having sexual contact with the boy’s two older siblings, one 15 and an older brother who is a deaf adult with mental disabilities. She also acknowledged molesting another boy who was 12 at the time.
Judge Fran Gull, who sentenced VanMeter Friday, called her actions “calculated and intentional.”
“This was not one isolated incident of poor judgment on your part,” Gull said.
Defense attorney Bart Arnold argued for a lenient sentence, saying that the woman suffered from depression and molested the children because she somehow believed it was a positive thing.
“My intentions were never to hurt anyone,” VanMeter said Friday.
After VanMeter gave birth to a baby in June, a paternity test revealed with 99.9 percent certainty that the 15-year-old was the father, according to court documents.
VanMeter said she wanted to assume the responsibility of raising her daughter, but Gull refused to consider that a factor in her favor during sentencing.
Local News
7:45 a.m.: Ex-religion teacher sentenced
- Local News
-
-
Snow causes few incidents
With temperatures expecting to reach the mid-30s this afternoon, the nearly inch and a half of snow the Anderson area received should soon be gone.
-
INDOT: Plow truck drivers prepared for expected snow
The Indiana Department of Transportation Greenfield District will cover all snow routes in advance of winter weather expected late Monday and early Tuesday.
-
Apartment fire routs residents
A fire Monday morning caused an apartment building to be without electricity.
-
Judge denies continuance for man involved in ’08 prison riot
Upon showing up for sentencing at the Madison County Government Center Monday afternoon, Joseph Martin was displeased to learn Circuit Court 6 Judge Dennis Carroll would not be handing down his sentence, as he was on vacation.
-
South Madison board interviews 4 finalists
The search went from 12 to four, and on Thursday, only one will remain to fill the vacancy of the South Madison Community School Corp. board.
-
Scattered snow showers
Scattered snow showers and pockets of a light wintry mix are possible this morning.
-
Poll question for Tuesday, Feb. 14
Vote daily in The Herald Bulletin poll. Today's poll qeustion can be found at the bottom of the homepage on the right side..
-
Anderson hires consultant to assess software
The city has hired a consultant to help the controller’s office assess financial software that Anderson has used for many years, but typically has not been effective.
-
Arrest Log: Feb. 14
Arrests made by Madison County law enforcement on Sunday and Monday, based on Madison County Jail records.
-
Proposed bill would streamline college credit transfer process
Indiana college students worried about whether their credit hours will transfer to another university may get some relief if a proposed higher-education bill passes.
- More Local News Headlines
-
