Former teacher pleads guilty to felony

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A Vigo County coach and teacher pleaded guilty to a felony Monday morning.

In May 2008, Tom Thornton was charged with child seduction, attempted child seduction and public indecency. Monday, Thornton agreed to a plea deal and was sentenced.

Thorton was a former teacher and boys basketball coach at West Vigo High School pleaded guilty to intimidation. The other three charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement.

Police said in 2008, Thornton exposed himself to his 17-year-old student and asked her to touch him. Breanna Marrs said since she came out with her story, she has been relentlessly harassed. Thornton was a well-liked teacher.

"My life has been hell the last 2 years," Marrs said. "Writing on my windows and prank calls."

Marrs took the stand in court to face Thornton for the first time in two years, in hopes of saving others.

"As long as he's not teaching and not doing this ever again to another girl, hopefully, he learned his lesson," Marrs said. "It's finally over and I can finally close this book now and start anew."

Marrs said she feels some peace with the plea agreement because now the truth is out. In that plea, Thornton admitted he did expose himself to her.

Thornton was sentenced to a year and half suspended. He will serve three years of probation and he also cannot apply for a teaching job.

"We wanted to make sure he wasn't going to be back in any schools so this wouldn't happen again," Vigo County Prosecutor Terry Modesitt said.