LAURENS, S.C. -- Allena Ward, a former English and math teacher, who pleaded guilty last year to charges of having sex with students, received six years in prison for her crimes. The judge sentenced Ward on Tuesday and said she must serve at least 85 percent of the sentence before she can be eligible for release.

Ward pleaded guilty on Sept. 6, 2007 to three counts of criminal sexual conduct with a minor and three counts of lewd acts on a minor.

Ward was a teacher at Bell Street Middle School in Clinton when she was arrested in February 2007.

Police said she had sex with at least five boys ages 14 and 15 years old.

Ward was fired from her teaching position when she was arrested.

During Tuesday’s hearing, a psychiatrist said Ward has been diagnosed with a dependent personality and a sexual disorder and said she needs treatment for her illness.

The family of the victims did not speak during the hearing, but some expressed their outrage over the sentence after the hearing.

Some protesters were waiting outside the courthouse and shouted “Racist” as Ward’s family left the building, escorted by police. The protesters said they believe if Ward was African-American her sentence would be much longer.

Solicitor Jerry Peace, the prosecuting attorney in the case, said he felt the sentence was just.

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