"The former climate and culture supervisor at the Contra Costa School of the Performing Arts has pleaded no contest to statutory rape of a former student as part of a plea deal that requires prosecutors to drop more serious charges. Gerard Flaherty, 43, pleaded no contest to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, a felony, and will be required to serve a three-year jail term that can be reduced by a half with good behavior, court records show."
"Flaherty was arrested in early May after his victim, a then-17-year-old girl who attended the school, accused him of sexually assaulting her in his office. Authorities say that in a secretly recorded call after the alleged sexual assault, the girl told Flaherty she was pregnant and he begged her to get an abortion, offering to pay for it and take her there, because, it would ruin so many lives and I would go to jail."
Gerard Flaherty, 43, pleaded no contest to unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and faces a three-year jail term that can be halved for good behavior. Prosecutors dropped forcible rape and other sex abuse counts under a plea deal. Flaherty was arrested in early May after a then-17-year-old student accused him of sexually assaulting her in his office. Authorities say a secretly recorded call captured Flaherty begging the girl to get an abortion and offering to pay for it. Police found alcohol in his campus office and noted his access to school security cameras. Flaherty was released weeks after being charged and remains free pending a January surrender date. A civil suit filed in September alleges school officials ignored reports of his inappropriate conduct toward minor female students; the suit is in its early stages and the school has not yet formally responded.
Read at www.mercurynews.com
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