Janelle G. Batkins of Harrison Township was charged Monday in 41B District Court in Clinton Township with two counts of third-degree criminal sexual conduct for engaging in sexual intercourse with a student at her home. Batkins and the boy began having consensual sex last December and continued through May, according to the Macomb County Sheriff's Office.

Although the boy is past the age of consent, Batkins violated the law because of her position of authority and he is under age 19, officials said.  The offense carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.  Assistant Macomb prosecutor Jean Femminineo said her office considers it "very serious" when teachers use their position of authority to engage in sexual relations with students.

The charges come after Roseville school officials commissioned an attorney, Mark Cousens from the Michigan Federation of Teachers in late 2005 or early 2006, to discuss how teachers and support personnel should interact with students, according to Roseville schools Superintendent John Kment.  "He talked about appropriate and inappropriate behavior with students, even things such as hugging," Kment said. "Don't put yourself in that position. If you're going to embrace a child, do it from the side. Don't drive kids home. Don't make inappropriate comments."

Kment said he did not know whether Batkins attended the event. It was held in the high school auditorium during the last class of the school day after students were released early.  Batkins, a French teacher, taught at the school since the early 1990s and in 2003 was named Teacher of the Year, Kment said.  She resigned in late July or early August, after the investigation began in early July, officials said.

The male teen, a high school athlete who graduated this year, cooperated with police, Sheriff Mark Hackel said.  "He admitted to it," the sheriff said. "He explained the contact and discussed it in great detail with investigators."  With the assistance from the boy's mother, police discovered "quite a few" e-mails, instant messaging and telephone calls between Batkins and the boy, Hackel said. The sheriff could not estimate the number of communications, but the case's court file, which was not made public, was more than 2 inches thick.

The e-mails and instant messaging communications include sexual references, Hackel said.  "Some of it is compelling," he said.  Batkins has admitted to electronically communicating with the boy out-of-school but has not admitted to the sexual contents or the alleged sexual relations, the sheriff said.  She is the married mother of two boys aged 14 and 21.

After turning herself in Monday morning, Batkins was to be released Monday night in lieu of a $25,000 personal bond.  Judge Sabastian Lucido said the teacher is to have no contact with minors, including friends of her 14-year-old son who come to visit, although the judge said she could seek permission to do so in a case-by-case basis. She also cannot go on the property of Roseville High, although it appears she can attend school functions for her son.

Batkins' attorney, Thomas Loeb, declined to comment after the hearing.

Ex-Roseville teacher charged in sex case pleads no contest

May 30, 2008

A former Roseville High School teacher charged with having sex with a teenage teacher's assistant has pleaded no contest in an agreement with prosecutors.  Forty-two-year-old Janelle Batkins of Harrison Township pleaded Thursday to two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct in Macomb County Circuit Court. A no contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but is treated as such for sentencing.   She could face up to 15 years in prison when sentenced July 2.  

Defense lawyer David Griem says the plea agreement was the best avenue for Batkins.  Authorities say Batkins and the then-17-year-old male student had consensual sex during the 2006-07 school year.   Batkins taught French for about 15 years in the district. She resigned over the summer.