Crime & Safety

Former Teacher Pleads Guilty to Sexual Battery

Gina Leigh Sabin will be allowed to serve her sentence on probation.

The former teacher and middle school cheerleading coach accused of inappropriate sexual contact with a boy under the age of 16 pleaded guilty yesterday.

Gina Leigh Sabin, 41, of 13 Twelve Oaks Drive in Cartersville, pleaded guilty to two counts of felony sexual battery in a negotiated deal with prosecutors. She had been charged with two counts of aggravated child molestation.

investigators had alleged Sabin twice performed oral sex on the minor in June 2009, but school officials have said the acts did not take place on school grounds.

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Superior Court Judge Carey Nelson sentenced Sabin to 5 years, but she is allowed to serve the time on probation. Sabin also was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.

Although Sabin was ordered to abide by sex offender conditions, the standard stipulations were amended. It's unclear which conditions apply to Sabin, as those records were not available from the clerk of court's office this morning.

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As part of the deal with prosecuting attorneys, Sabin agreed to surrender her teaching certificate. She was represented by attorney Anthony Perotta.

Formerly employed with , Sabin was a fifth-grade teacher at Cloverleaf and served as cheerleading coach at Woodland Middle School.


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