Former Catholic High teacher pleads guilty to statutory rape of student

Former Catholic High teacher pleads guilty to statutory rape of student

September 28, 2007

KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- A former teacher at Catholic High School in Knoxville pleaded guilty Friday to the statutory rape of a student.

Dianne Dieterich, 35, admitted in a court filing that she engaged in sexual relations with a teen boy in June. His name and age have not been released.

Judge Mary Beth Leibowitz granted diversion for Dieterich after sentencing her to four years in prison. 

But Dieterich is also on probation. She must have no contact with the teen and stay in sexual and marital counseling as conditions of her sentence.

The special counsel to the Knox County district attorney says the victim's family had input into Dieterich's sentencing.

"She has accepted responsibility for this matter and we hope that everyone will respect the privacy of all the individuals that are involved," said Dieterich's attorney, Greg Isaacs, in a statement.

Dieterich was fired from Catholic as the chairwoman of the business and technology department and a track and field coach. She had been at the school since 1999.

Principal Dickie Sompayrac told 6 News by phone Friday he can't comment on personnel issues but administrators have an obligation to be there for the students.

The state said in August she may have had an "inappropriate relationship" with a student.