Teacher sentenced to 3 years for sexual misconduct with student

A Maricopa County judge today imposed a three-year prison sentence on former Odyssey teacher Alyssa Todd, who was convicted of attempted sexual conduct with a minor in Buckeye.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Todd Lang said the case involved a blatant breach of trust and profound emotional harm to the victim's life and family.

The victim and his mother read emotional impact statements, but Lang barred InBuckeye from publishing those accounts.

Under the three-year sentence, Todd received credit for 490 days of incarceration. In addition to prison, the court ordered lifetime supervised probation with strict restrictions on computer usage. Todd must also register as a sex offender.

Defense attorney Dakota Johnson acknowledged the serious nature of the offense, emphasized Todd’s willingness to accept responsibility, and noted her commitment to rehabilitation. Johnson argued that her lack of prior criminal history and proactive steps toward accountability warranted a sentence of two to two-and-a-half years.

“There was another case in this exact area, within the same school district, where I served as the defense attorney. You were the sentencing judge, and the prosecutor in this case was the prosecutor in that case,” Johnson said. “In that case, that person was facing far worse time at trial, had the same criminal history and got probation out of that.”

The judge rejected calls for a lesser sentence, stating the impact was too severe.

“While the mitigating factors are acknowledged, they do not overcome the gravity of the harm caused,” Lang said. “I’m finding a slightly mitigated sentence of three years is appropriate. I can’t get to two or two-and-a-half. The aggravators are so serious.”

Lang also applauded the victim’s bravery for resisting and halting further misconduct, remarks that emphasized the impact Todd had on the teen’s well-being.

Todd was indicted early last year on six counts of sexual misconduct with a 15-year-old and one count of aggravated luring of a minor.

Case background

Todd’s case began when her husband, also an Odyssey employee, called Buckeye police after finding evidence that Todd and a 15-year-old boy were in a sexual relationship.

The husband reportedly found handwritten notes in a dresser that were “sexual in nature,” along with laptop messages that outlined a sexual relationship.

Todd later gave detectives a handwritten note alleging the relationship began when the teen kissed her, according to court documents.

“Everything started when she was taking the victim to get new track spikes, and he kissed her,” the documents state. “After that, the defendant stated they tried to find times to be alone. This included lying about their destination. They would sit in her car and sneak into her husband’s office at the school to kiss each other.”

The relationship escalated from watching movies alone in Todd’s car to sexting with lewd photos, leading to planned sexual encounters, court records show.

“According to the defendant, the victim stated he wanted to have sex with her. She then bought condoms, and they planned to leave the school and drive somewhere to have sex. When they did this, the defendant made the victim leave his phone at school so no one could see his location.”

Investigators later found a used condom in Todd’s car containing both parties’ DNA. However, investigator narratives say the parties claimed only grinding occurred.

The sentence comes months after another Buckeye teacher’s aide, Diana Pirvu, was spared prison in a similar case involving a 13-year-old. Pirvu was offered a plea deal due to police errors, prosecutors said. InBuckeye later confirmed an apparent Miranda rights violation influenced the state’s decision.

Odyssey teacher No. 2

Another Buckeye-based Odyssey teacher convicted of misconduct is also facing a civil lawsuit with similar allegations of sneaking out with a minor.

According to a recently amended civil complaint filed in December, Jessica Kramer — who was sentenced to three years in prison — was accused of signing a student out of yoga class to spend time with him alone in her classroom.

Kramer was arrested Sept. 11, 2023, according to Buckeye police.

The complaint alleges Kramer slept in the same bed and cuddled with the victim, and that the student drove her home while she was intoxicated despite only having a driving permit.

The Odyssey school system is also named in the suit. The victim’s parents allege the school was negligent in failing to protect students.