Teacher Assistant Accused of Illicit Relationship with Student Pleads Guilty

Teacher Assistant Accused of Illicit Relationship with Student Pleads Guilty

Former Strom Thurmond High School teaching assistant Gemil Lopez pled guilty to Assault and Battery 2nd, Wednesday, Nov. 13.  Lopez, 32, was originally charged with sexual battery with a student back in January after an illicit relationship between him and a 17 year old student was discovered.

Lopez was offered a the chance to enter a guilty plea to the assault and battery charge as part of a plea bargain, but he declined that offer before a judge at the Edgefield County Court House, Tuesday, Nov. 12.  Before his trial was set to begin Wednesday, Lopez decided to accept the plea bargain in which he will be placed on probation for 18 months.

Lopez will face no jail time and will not have to register as a sex offender.