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Former teacher sentenced for sexual communication with teen

Published  January 17, 2019 11:08pm PST
Associated Press

EVERETT, Wash. — A former middle school teacher in northwestern Washington state has been sentenced to 30 days in jail after pleading guilty to sexual communication with a teen.

The Daily Herald reports 49-year-old Paul Chonka pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge, stemming from conversations with a 14-year-old student last summer.

District officials say Chonka resigned last week from Marysville Middle School where he taught science.

He was previously charged with felony communication with a minor for immoral purposes.

According to a police report, Chonka and the student exchanged sexually charged messages on social media and met up at a Marysville park, where they talked and hugged.

Chonka was also ordered to undergo a sexual deviancy evaluation and register as a sex offender.

Chonka's defense attorney declined to comment.