Former Parkview High School teacher Michael Henderson pleaded guilty Wednesday to three counts of sexual assault connected to a sexual relationship he had with a student.

Henderson, a former Georgia Bulldogs wide receiver, was sentenced to 20 years, with five to be served in prison and the remainder on probation. He will also be required to register as a sex offender. The maximum sentence for sexual assault by a person with supervisory or disciplinary authority — the specific charge to which Henderson pleaded guilty — is 25 years in prison. Henderson could have faced a total of 75 years.

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Gwinnett County Assistant District Attorney Courtney Spicer had requested that Henderson receive the sentence of 20 years, with five to be served in prison and the remainder on Parole. Judge Tom Davis said that while he personally felt that Henderson “should spend every day in prison [he] is eligible for,” he did not want to further traumatize the victim by forcing the case to go to trial.

Henderson was arrested in May 2017 after the victim’s friends found out about the abuse and told a school administrator. The sexual activity had been occurring for nearly two years, beginning shortly before the victim turned 16.

Read more about what the victim and judge had to say to Henderson at MyAJC.com

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