Assistant Principal Indicted On Sex Charges (12/12/05)

Reported by: Deb Silverman
Web produced by: Mark Sickmiller
Photographed by: 9News
First posted: 5/19/2006 5:45:50 PM

A former assistant principal indicted for having sex with a teenager took a surprise plea deal Friday.

It's a deal on which the Warren County Prosecutor refuses to answer questions.

The victim's mother says none of this makes sense to her.

The former Lebanon administrator pleaded no contest to a crime that has nothing to do with sex and he likely won't do any time.

Thomas Monti made one plea in court Friday: no contest.

Judge James Flannery then finds him guilty of felonious assault.

Last year, the Lebanon Junior High Assistant Principal was indicted on 15 counts of sexual battery involving his 14-year-old foster child, who was also a student at his school.

As part of the deal, Monti's maximum sentence will be probation and one day in jail. He'll also surrender his teaching certificate.

The victim's mother is angry prosecutors went for this plea deal.

"It's just a smack on the hand because he's got a title. Status in the community and the money to pay a good attorney," said Annette Cavins, the victim's mother.

Monti's attorney, Charlie Rittgers, says his client never had a sexual relationship with the teen.

He says the victim has a reputation of lying and a history of being abused. He says he couldn't take the risk of going to trial.

"There's no guarantee with a jury trial. You never know what a jury's going to do. If we would have gone to trial and found guilty he would have gone to prison," said Rittgers.

Prison is what this mother says Monti deserves. She says the justice system has failed her daughter.

Monti resigned from his job with Lebanon Schools in 2005.

He'll be sentenced next month.

Warren County Prosecutor Rachel Hutzel refused to answer our questions about why she was willing to give him this plea deal.