Texas Teacher Gets Probation & $1,000 Fine After Pleading Guilty to Sexual Relationships With Two Boys Under 17

Former Valley Mills High School teacher and coach reportedly pleads guilty to two counts of educator-student improper relationship for allegedly being sexually involved with two teens.

Shelby Dawn Lashombe, who resigned from her teaching job at Valley Mills High School due to the allegations against her and voluntarily gave up her teaching certification, pleaded guilty Friday to the two counts in McLennan County, in front of 19th State District Judge Thomas West.

The prosecution recommended deferred probation for Lashombe, along with a $1,000 fine.

The McLennan County District Attorney’s office agreed to dismiss two of the four charges against her, both for sexual assault of a child, which are second-degree felonies.

The two second-degree felony charges of educator-student improper relationship carry a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.

Judge Thomas West ordered a presentence investigation by probation officers before accepting or rejecting the offer to resolve the case through a plea bargain.

Sentencing in the case is set for June 26. Through deferred probation, Lashombe will not be found guilty of the crime, as long as she adheres to the conditions of her probation.

The two teens, students at West High School and Axtell High School, respectively, were not enrolled at the school where Lashombe worked, officials say.

In the arrest warrant for Lashombe, the McLennan County Sheriff’s Department states that it received information that Lashombe had kissed a 16-year-old male and that the two had sexual intercourse.

An officer who conducted an interview with the minor says that the young man verified the sexual activity and said it happened more than once.

Lashombe told the investigator that the young man was aware of her age but did not tell her that he was not yet of legal age.

She admitted to being in a physical relationship with him and added that they had known each other for six months.

“Shelby stated she had been friends with the juvenile’s family for years, knowing his age and that he was a student.”

She also confessed to having an ongoing sexual relationship with another young man who was under the age of 17, the document states.