Teacher accused in student sex case pleads not guilty
By Kim Smith ksmith@stmedianetwork.com January 26, 2011 9:46AM
Ashley Blumenshine, 27, Plainfield North High School physical education teacher.
Updated: January 27, 2011 2:50AM
JOLIET — A 27-year-old former Plainfield teacher pleaded not guilty Wednesday morning to charges she had sex with a 16-year-old student.
Ashley M. Blumenshine, of Lisle, appeared in the Will County courtroom of Judge Richard Schoenstedt. She is charged with aggravated criminal sexual abuse.
Wearing a light pink coat, Blumenshine was escorted to court by an older couple who appeared to be her parents. She never said a word as her defense attorney, George Lenard, spoke to the judge on her behalf.
After the plea, Lenard said he couldn’t talk about the case except to say his client would not speak to the media.
The case will go to pretrial March 2.
Police reportedly found Blumenshine and the boy in a vehicle Jan. 4 outside a department store on Route 59.
Blumenshine taught physical education and dance and has worked in the district since 2006. She coached golf at Plainfield North, serving as head coach last school year and assistant coach in the 2008-09 school year. She also taught driver’s education in the summer in 2008. She was also an assistant cheerleading coach at Plainfield South High School in the 2006-07 school year.
Blumenshine, a tenured teacher at Plainfield North High School, resigned from the school district following her arrest. If she is found guilty of aggravated sexual abuse, her teacher’s certificate will be automatically revoked. She has been on unpaid leave since Jan. 10.
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