Former California teacher weeps in court over raping a 14-year-old student

A former California teacher, Amanda Leigh Quinonez, 34, broke down in tears in court as the mother of a 14-year-old student she abused described the lasting impact on her son and family.

Quinonez, who formerly taught in Riverside, pleaded guilty in March to several offences, including sexual penetration with a foreign object, lewd acts on a child, and providing sexually explicit material to a minor. Prosecutors said the abuse occurred while the boy was her student.

During Monday’s hearing at Riverside Superior Court, the boy’s mother told the court that her son had been deeply traumatised by the abuse and that the family had been forced to make major changes, including moving the victim and his older brother to another school.

Quinonez apologised, saying she had failed the boy and his family. She is expected to undergo a mental-health evaluation in custody ahead of sentencing, which is scheduled for November 10.