**South Florida Teacher Accused of Sexual Battery Avoids Additional Jail Time**
FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida (WPBF) – A South Florida teacher accused of sexual battery involving a former student more than eight years ago will avoid additional jail time, according to recent court documents from Broward County.
Pamela S. Stigger, 42, pleaded no contest on October 20 to two counts of felony battery. She was found guilty by the court and sentenced to five years’ probation. Her sentence also includes paying court costs, submitting to a psychosexual evaluation, and maintaining no contact with the victim.
Additionally, Stigger is prohibited from applying for a teaching license and from having unsupervised contact with minors unless they are family members. She also has the option to transfer her probation to Palm Beach County.
Originally, Stigger faced two counts of sexual battery and one count of lewd conduct. However, court records indicate that the state attorney’s office did not pursue those charges.
The incident occurred early on May 11, 2017, when Broward County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to reports of a vehicle obstructing traffic in Tamarac. Upon arrival, deputies found Stigger in the back seat of the vehicle with a 15-year-old boy partially undressed. The boy had been Stigger’s student in an eighth-grade drama class.
According to the victim, he was assisting Stigger in preparing for an upcoming production event. However, while Stigger was dropping the boy off at home, she stopped the vehicle, and the victim told deputies that sexual activity occurred in the back of the car.
Stigger denied any sexual activity, claiming the boy was attempting to seduce her. It is important to note that in Florida, the age of consent is 18.
At the time of the arrest, Stigger was a 33-year-old teacher at Forest Glen Middle School in Coral Springs. The Broward County Public Schools District confirmed that Stigger’s employment was terminated on July 1, 2018. Prior to her termination, she was placed on administrative leave from March 21 to June 30, 2018.
WPBF 25 News reached out to Stigger’s attorney for comment and is currently awaiting a response.
According to the Florida Department of Corrections database, Stigger’s probation is being supervised by the circuit office in West Palm Beach.
*This story was provided to CNN Wire by an affiliate partner and does not contain original CNN reporting.*
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