Dudley pleads no contest, sentenced to 8 years

Former Brownsboro High School teacher Donald Gene Dudley, was sentenced Monday to eight years in prison for indecency with a child by sexual contact for the sexual relationship he had with a 15- year old student last summer.

During Monday morning's hearing Dudley,44, stood handcuffed and shackled before 392nd District Judge Carter Tarrance in Henderson County and pleaded no contest, waiving his right to a trial by jury. Tarrance found him guilty of a second degree felony.

Dudley also waived his right to appeal both Monday's conviction as well as the conviction handed down by a Smith County jury November 20 for sexual assault of a child for the sexual relationship he had with the same student on July 15, 2005 in his Tyler home. He was sentenced to nine years on the Smith County conviction.

At the end of Monday's hearing, the victim's mother tearfully read a statement to Dudley:

"...Addressing you today - this is for what you did to my daughter in my home, in Brownsboro High School.

"Throughout all of these proceedings in Smith and Henderson County, I've watched in amazement your mother, Dudley, and have tried to place myself in her shoes - wondering how in the world she feels and how she has handled this mess you've admittedly caused.

"Just like me with my child, your mother carried you for nine months, she gave birth to you, she cradled you, nurtured you, loved you...I have no doubt you were raised right and came from a good family.

"What's difficult to understand is how a person like you, once a little boy with a mom who loves him so much - how does that innocent child go from that to the vile, lying, sinful man you are today who's preyed upon his students and co-workers, alike. This isn't about your family, your raising...It's about choices, your choices, the path you've chosen. You chose this. You didn't bank on getting caught.

"It's been about a year and a half since everything came to light and your dirty deeds revealed. What I'd give if criminals and their crimes were handled as they were in the good ol' days, my Grandpa's day. We'd cut through a lot of nonsense and wasting of time and extended heartache, as what my family has gone through. I've watched you trial after trial go through the process, confess to what you've done, and stand again only to say you're "not guilty" having been sworn to tell the truth to God and everyone else.

"I wish you'd look at me when I say this to you. What a mockery of God you are. And how far away you are from the person He and I'm sure, your parents hoped and prayed you'd be.

"You still have a choice in the path you take with the years you have left, Dudley. My baby girl, chose to take the good path and bring something positive from the hell she's been through. God always had His hand on her....He still has His on you, too. Now you have the choice of which path you will take. I hope and pray you chose the right one this time."

After the hearing, the victim's mother said she is not through fighting.

"There are still changes to be done," she said. "I just hope other girls out there who have gone through this will come forward. This has got to stop."

On June 9, a different Smith County jury convicted Dudley of sexually assaulting the same victim on July 9, 2005. The 10-woman, two-man jury reportedly said they thought they were sentencing him to 10 years in jail. However, due to a misunderstanding in the language in the charge, Dudley was given five years probation, which included six months in the Smith County jail.

Both the nine year and eight year sentences will run concurrently in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Dudley, will not be eligible for parole, and will be required to register as a sex offender.