Ex-teacher pleads guilty to sex crime

A former Roseville middle school teacher pleaded guilty Tuesday in an Auburn courtroom to charges of having unlawful sex with a minor and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.Kelly C. Spaich, 28, appeared before Judge Robert McElhany, alongside her Auburn attorney Tim Balcom.She was sentenced to 400 hours of community service, four years formal probation and four months in jail, Balcom said.As part of the plea deal, Spaich will not be allowed to work as a teacher. She is eligible to apply for alternative sentencing, such as electronic monitoring, and may not have to serve jail time."She could have done up to three years in prison," Balcom said. "This (deal) was agreed upon with the District Attorney's Office. We took the needs of the victim into consideration in the plea agreement and early resolution."Spaich, who worked as an eighth-grade language arts and social studies teacher at Silverado Middle School, was arrested April 6 and is suspected of having sex with a 16-year-old boy, who was her former student.During a May court proceeding, Spaich pleaded not guilty to the felony and misdemeanor charges.The victim's name is not being released due to his age and being the victim of a sex crime. Spaich, who received the 2002-2003 Association of California School Administrators "Teachers Who Make a Difference Award," was put on paid administrative leave following her arrest. She has subsequently resigned her position.The alleged sexual relationship took place over a period of seven months, said prosecutor Jeff Wood. "This was going on for a period of time," he has said. "They ended it recently."The Journal's Penne Usher can be reached at penneu@goldcountrymedia.com or post a comment at auburnjournal.com.