Former teacher sentenced in child sex crime

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The former teacher accused of having sexual relationships with minors pleaded guilty in court Thursday.

Leonard Hoffman was sentenced to one year in the Duval County Jail and eight years of Sex Offender Probation.

At the time of the crime, the 32 year old was a school teacher in the Duval County Public Schools system.  Hoffman was arrested by JSO officers in March of 2012.  Evidence showed that Hoffman had sexual contact with a 16-year-old girl.

"Today's sentence protects the victim from having to testify about those events in front of a jury.  It also makes the defendant a sexual offender who will be under supervision for nine years," said Assistant State Attorney Erin Perry.

Hoffman was a teacher at Paxon Middle School.