By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
A former Illinois school teacher who pleaded guilty to charges stemming from an affair with a male student Friday expressed her remorse, wishing 'with all of my heart' that she could 'take it back.' Ashley Blumenshine, 29, of Marseilles, was arrested in 2011 for allegedly having sex with one of her a 16-year-old boy. Police said the relationship with the teen may have gone on for more than a month. She was sentenced to two years probation and 30 days in jail with a day-for-day credit and credit for four days served as part of a plea deal with prosecutors, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
She will also have to register as a sex offender for 10 years, said her attorney, George Lenard. Blumenshine was still struggling to forgive herself for what happened, according to a letter she penned in January 2012 that was included in her court file this April. 'In my wildest dreams I never would have thought that this turn of events would have happened to me,' she wrote. 'Somewhere within a few months time, I lost Ashley.
'I can not take back what I did; I can only show everyone including myself that I am a good person and one who will never make the same mistake twice.' Blumenshine, 27, was arrested behind a department store in Plainfield, Ill., after police caught her in a car with the teen just outside a Kohl's department store. Police believe that they had had sex shortly before the officers arrived.
'The person in the back was partially unclothed,' said Plainfield Police Chief William Doster of the student. A condom was taken as evidence from the vehicle. She taught dance and physical education at Plainfield North High School for four years and is known for her popularity. The boy was a junior at the school. At the time of her arrest, Plainfield North High School graduate Michael Deland said: 'I remember she's a really nice lady.'
She resigned from her teaching position shortly after the arrest. Blumenshine apologized to both the student and his family as well as her family, friends, former students, and the school. She has since begun work as a bank teller, started dating a church-going man, and 'most importantly.' she wrote, found God. She hopes to return to school to become a physical therapist.
