Photo: Michigan State PoliceA former Michigan special education teacher allegedly sexually assaulted a boy for about three years, beginning when the boy was 11.PEOPLE learns from online records that the January arrest of Heather Winfield, 38, followed an investigation that began in 2016, soon after the teacher resigned from her position at Thunder Bay Junior High School in Alpena after district officials first learned of the allegations.Winfield has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child younger than 13 and single counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct during the commission of a felony, third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child aged 13 to 15, second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child younger than 13, accosting a minor for immoral purposes, and using a computer to commit a crime.The Alpena Newsreportsthat the boy alleged he had sex with Winfield more than 100 times, and that she texted him images of an ultrasound, telling the boy — now 14 — she was pregnant.The paper was present for a court hearing on Friday, during which the teen testified about the alleged relationship.Defense attorneys wanted the case thrown out, but Judge Thomas LaCross ruled Friday that there was sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.According tothe Alpena News, the alleged victim — who has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder — testified that, before they ever had sexual contact, Winfield started buying him gifts, including fishing gear and bicycles.• Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage?Click hereto get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.The boy testified that he had sex with Winfield for the first time in a trailer on her property in the summer of 2016, and said of their alleged continuing sexual contact, “We were really sneaky about it.”The boy further testified that he is not sure if Winfield was ever actually pregnant, and said he doesn’t know what might have happened to the purported pregnancy.The Alpena Newsreports that the defense argued the boy’s story was a fabrication, and that the teen created fake evidence to incriminate the teacher, claiming he sent texts and pictures to himself with her phone — for which he had the password.The defense further stated Winfield wanted to help adopt the boy, and alleged the boy sexually assaulted her in a bathroom.“It is a lie,” the boy testified in response.Winfield was released after posting $250,000 bond.Attempts to reach her and her attorneys for comment were unsuccessful Tuesday.At this time, a trial date has not been set.If convicted on all counts, Winfield could be sent to prison for the rest of her life.
Photo: Michigan State Police
A former Michigan special education teacher allegedly sexually assaulted a boy for about three years, beginning when the boy was 11.PEOPLE learns from online records that the January arrest of Heather Winfield, 38, followed an investigation that began in 2016, soon after the teacher resigned from her position at Thunder Bay Junior High School in Alpena after district officials first learned of the allegations.Winfield has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child younger than 13 and single counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct during the commission of a felony, third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child aged 13 to 15, second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child younger than 13, accosting a minor for immoral purposes, and using a computer to commit a crime.The Alpena Newsreportsthat the boy alleged he had sex with Winfield more than 100 times, and that she texted him images of an ultrasound, telling the boy — now 14 — she was pregnant.The paper was present for a court hearing on Friday, during which the teen testified about the alleged relationship.Defense attorneys wanted the case thrown out, but Judge Thomas LaCross ruled Friday that there was sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.According tothe Alpena News, the alleged victim — who has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder — testified that, before they ever had sexual contact, Winfield started buying him gifts, including fishing gear and bicycles.• Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage?Click hereto get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.The boy testified that he had sex with Winfield for the first time in a trailer on her property in the summer of 2016, and said of their alleged continuing sexual contact, “We were really sneaky about it.”The boy further testified that he is not sure if Winfield was ever actually pregnant, and said he doesn’t know what might have happened to the purported pregnancy.The Alpena Newsreports that the defense argued the boy’s story was a fabrication, and that the teen created fake evidence to incriminate the teacher, claiming he sent texts and pictures to himself with her phone — for which he had the password.The defense further stated Winfield wanted to help adopt the boy, and alleged the boy sexually assaulted her in a bathroom.“It is a lie,” the boy testified in response.Winfield was released after posting $250,000 bond.Attempts to reach her and her attorneys for comment were unsuccessful Tuesday.At this time, a trial date has not been set.If convicted on all counts, Winfield could be sent to prison for the rest of her life.
A former Michigan special education teacher allegedly sexually assaulted a boy for about three years, beginning when the boy was 11.
PEOPLE learns from online records that the January arrest of Heather Winfield, 38, followed an investigation that began in 2016, soon after the teacher resigned from her position at Thunder Bay Junior High School in Alpena after district officials first learned of the allegations.
Winfield has pleaded not guilty to two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child younger than 13 and single counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct during the commission of a felony, third-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child aged 13 to 15, second-degree criminal sexual conduct with a child younger than 13, accosting a minor for immoral purposes, and using a computer to commit a crime.
The Alpena Newsreportsthat the boy alleged he had sex with Winfield more than 100 times, and that she texted him images of an ultrasound, telling the boy — now 14 — she was pregnant.
The paper was present for a court hearing on Friday, during which the teen testified about the alleged relationship.
Defense attorneys wanted the case thrown out, but Judge Thomas LaCross ruled Friday that there was sufficient evidence to proceed to trial.
According tothe Alpena News, the alleged victim — who has been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder — testified that, before they ever had sexual contact, Winfield started buying him gifts, including fishing gear and bicycles.
• Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage?Click hereto get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter.
The boy testified that he had sex with Winfield for the first time in a trailer on her property in the summer of 2016, and said of their alleged continuing sexual contact, “We were really sneaky about it.”
The boy further testified that he is not sure if Winfield was ever actually pregnant, and said he doesn’t know what might have happened to the purported pregnancy.
The Alpena Newsreports that the defense argued the boy’s story was a fabrication, and that the teen created fake evidence to incriminate the teacher, claiming he sent texts and pictures to himself with her phone — for which he had the password.
The defense further stated Winfield wanted to help adopt the boy, and alleged the boy sexually assaulted her in a bathroom.
“It is a lie,” the boy testified in response.
Winfield was released after posting $250,000 bond.
Attempts to reach her and her attorneys for comment were unsuccessful Tuesday.
At this time, a trial date has not been set.
If convicted on all counts, Winfield could be sent to prison for the rest of her life.
source: people.com
