JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The former Duval County teacher who pleaded guilty to kissing and touching a student during what was supposed to be a private singing lesson is set to be sentenced Friday.
The sentencing hearing for former Douglas Anderson School of the Arts teacher Jeffrey Clayton, 66, begins at 1:30 p.m. at the Duval County Courthouse. Four statements are expected to be read during the hearing from former Douglas Anderson students. The court will also hear a recorded phone call between Clayton and the victim in the case which includes graphic descriptions from Clayton.
Clayton faces up to 40 years in prison. On Friday his defense attorneys are expected to ask the judge to consider other similar crimes by Florida teachers and point out their sentences were well under 40 years.
First Coast News brought questions about what this could mean for Clayton's sentencing to Attorney LaFonda Middleton who is not affiliated with his case.
Other cases Clayton's attorneys will point to include one in Palm Beach County where a male teacher had sex with a student and was sentenced to three years in prison. Attorneys are also expected to bring up two Miami-Dade County cases where two female teachers had sex with students and were sentenced to probation but no jail time.
Middleton thinks it’s a good move by the defense to include this for the judge to consider, but said it's difficult to compare cases.
"It's really difficult to look at one case in another jurisdiction and say, 'See, this is what happened in this jurisdiction and therefore it should happen in this jurisdiction,'" she said. "It's more than just the numbers and the names on the page. They look at all of the specific circumstances in each case."
Clayton is not accused of having sex with a student, but kissing and touching her.
His defense is asking the judge to consider that Clayton had never been arrested as well as consider his career and life now, saying he’s been homeless and has strained family relations. Middleton said the defense wants the judge to see how he’s already paid for his crimes.
“The judge makes the ultimate decision," Middleton said.
Middleton said there are sentencing disparities between male and female teachers charged with the same crimes and women usually receive less jail time.