Aurora substitute teacher who had sex with boy, 16, denied early exit from prison

Saying she had to send a "clear message" that sexual relationships between teachers and students will not be tolerated, a Portage County judge on Monday denied early release from prison for a former Aurora substitute teacher convicted of having sex with a 16-year-old boy.

Common Pleas Judge Laurie Pittman denied judicial release for Mary E. Schnell, 26, of Aurora, following a brief hearing in her courtroom.

While praising Schnell for serving her fellow inmates through programs like literacy tutoring, Pittman told her she "took a part of the innocence" of both her victim, who was an Aurora High School student in spring 2011, and the community of Aurora by having sexual relations with him.

For more on this story, see the Advocatyr'd March 6 edition.