Heather Hare is a former Arkansas high school teacher who was sentenced on May 15, 2024, to 13 years in federal prison for transporting a minor student across state lines to engage in unlawful sexual activity. Hare, 33 at sentencing, taught Family Consumer Science at Bryant High School in Saline County and pleaded guilty after an investigation found she had sexually abused a senior student 20 to 30 times during the 2021–2022 school year.1U.S. Department of Justice. Former Bryant High School Teacher Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Transportation of a Minor
How the Abuse Unfolded
Prosecutors said Hare met the victim on the first day of the student’s senior year and began holding one-on-one counseling sessions with him. She gave him her personal phone number, and the two communicated mainly through Instagram and Snapchat.1U.S. Department of Justice. Former Bryant High School Teacher Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Transportation of a Minor
Across that school year, Hare engaged in sexual activity with the student between 20 and 30 times. The abuse happened at her home in Conway, in her vehicle, inside her classroom, and in Bryant High School parking lots.1U.S. Department of Justice. Former Bryant High School Teacher Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Transportation of a Minor
The conduct that triggered federal jurisdiction took place between April 21 and April 24, 2022, when Hare chaperoned a school-sponsored field trip to Washington, D.C. She transported the minor across state lines and engaged in unlawful sexual activity with him during the trip.1U.S. Department of Justice. Former Bryant High School Teacher Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Transportation of a Minor
The Federal Charges and Guilty Plea
A federal grand jury in the Eastern District of Arkansas indicted Hare on August 1, 2023, on two counts: interstate or foreign travel for sexual activity by coercion, and transportation of a minor with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.1U.S. Department of Justice. Former Bryant High School Teacher Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Transportation of a Minor
On January 22, 2024, she pleaded guilty to the transportation count.2U.S. Department of Justice. Former Bryant High School Teacher Pleads Guilty to Transportation of a Minor to Engage in Illegal Sexual Activity The coercion count was dismissed as part of the plea agreement.3CourtListener. United States v. Hare The charge she admitted carried a statutory range of 10 years to life.4Arkansas Times. Former Bryant Teacher Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Sex With Student
The Sentence
U.S. District Judge Lee P. Rudofsky sentenced Hare to 156 months in federal prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release.1U.S. Department of Justice. Former Bryant High School Teacher Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Transportation of a Minor Rudofsky said the sentence “just barely satisfies the interests of justice.”5Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Former Bryant Teacher Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Arkansas said the sentence reflected Hare “abusing her position of trust and taking advantage of the vulnerability of this minor to repeatedly engage in unlawful sexual activity.”1U.S. Department of Justice. Former Bryant High School Teacher Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Transportation of a Minor Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Bryant prosecuted the case.4Arkansas Times. Former Bryant Teacher Sentenced to 13 Years in Federal Prison for Sex With Student