Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of abuse. Reader discretion is advised.
Heather Hare is 33 years old and pleaded guilty to transporting a minor across state borders for the purpose of unlawful sexual activity. She was convicted on January 22, 2024. Hare was an Arkansas high school teacher who appeared on Good Morning America four years ago. She appeared on the show after her students made a sweet video for her. The video was made because of the break in her classes during the pandemic. She has now been found guilty of repeatedly sexually abusing a child, as per a People Magazine report.
Hare reportedly took family consumer science classes at Bryant High School. She had a sexual relationship with a senior student there. During the academic year between 2021 and 2022, Heather Hare reportedly engaged in sexual activity with her student about 20 to 30 times. They engaged in intercourse at her Conway residence, in the school classrooms and parking lots, as well as in her vehicle.
Hare allegedly began one-on-one counseling sessions with the victim on the very first day of their senior year. She then began to get close to the victim and gave them her contact details. They messaged each other on Snapchat and Instagram while she made it clear that she dreamed of having sex. She then went ahead and gave them her home address.
Heather Hare pleaded guilty to having sex with the victim while they were on a field trip to Washington, DC. She was arrested in August 2023 after she was charged with foreign travel for sexual activity, too. However, this charge was dropped based on the plea agreement.
How much prison time did Heather Hare get?
A Saline County Circuit Court sentenced Heather Hare to 13 years in prison for sexual assault. She was also sentenced to another 20 years in prison, which will be served concurrently, as per ABC 7. She will also face a lifetime of supervised release.
Hare was indicted on August 1, 2023. She was charged with one count of interstate/foreign travel for prostitution/sexual activity by coercion and one count of transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity, as per records of the United States Attorney’s Office.
As per a report by KARK, many parents and residents around Bryant expressed their concerns about their children’s future. There was also a sense of shock considering how infrequent such incidents are in the area. Heather Hare was let go by the school in March when the allegations against her were made public.
“This former teacher took advantage of her position of trust and the vulnerability of a minor, using her role to entice and lure this minor into engaging in unlawful sexual activity,” the judge who sentenced Heather Hare said. “Our office will continue to seek significant penalties against any educational professional who sexually abuse their students.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bryant Police Department, and the Saline County Sheriff’s Office collectively investigated the case against Heather Hare. Although some of the charges against her were dismissed as part of a guilty plea, Hare is likely to spend a significant amount of time in prison and will be under supervision for the rest of her life.
