Former Burbank teacher pleads no contest in students sex case

BURBANK — Amy Beck, the former Burbank middle school teacher who turned herself in earlier this month for allegedly having sex with a 14-year-old student, faces up to two years in state prison as part of a plea deal announced in court on Thursday.

Beck, a 33-year-old former English and social science teacher at Jordan Middle School, pleaded no contest Thursday in Los Angeles County Superior Court as part of a deal in which she faces up to two years in state prison, in addition to registering as a sex offender for two charges related to sex with a minor. A no-contest plea is not an admission of guilt, but it is treated as such for sentencing purposes. She is scheduled to be sentenced May 7.

“She understood the day she walked into the police department that she would in fact go to state prison,” her attorney Michael Williamson said. “Amy feels quite guilty and very remorseful, in fact I would say it’s the highest degree of remorsefulness anyone could ever get to.”

Beck was originally charged with four counts of unlawful sex with a minor and one count of oral copulation with a minor. All but one of those charges were dropped as part of the plea deal, Deputy District Atty. Debra Archuleta said. Another charge that required her to register as a sex offender was added.

“It’s what we do at times to resolve cases quickly,” she said. “I think it’s in the best interests of all the parties that this case be resolved quickly and quietly.”

Beck wore an orange jumpsuit with her hands bound behind her back as she affirmed her no contest plea in court with a series of responses: “Yes ma’am.”

She has remained in custody since March 8, when she turned herself into Burbank Police, her attorney at her side, for allegedly having sex with a former male student during a six-month period, ending in September 2009, authorities said.

Williamson said Beck was not in love with the former student, and that her decision to turn herself into authorities was motivated by guilt.

“Sometimes people struggle with things and the reality is, at some point, you have enough guilt and enough remorse and you step up,” Williamson said. “As to why she may not have [turned herself in] sooner, I can’t speak to that. I know she has done what she believes to have done the right thing.”