OMAHA, NEB. — A former teacher accused of fleeing to Mexico with a 13-year-old former student pleaded not guilty today to federal charges of crossing a border to have sex with a minor.
Kelsey Peterson looked nervous as U.S. marshals led her into the courtroom in handcuffs, ankle chains and an orange jumpsuit. She bit her lip and started crying while flipping through court documents.
Peterson will remain in federal custody at the Cass County jail while a psychological evaluation is completed. Her attorney, James Martin Davis, said the evaluation will show Peterson is not a danger or a flight risk.
But federal prosecutor Jan Sharp told the judge that Peterson has told police she is in love with the boy and said she was not sure she would do anything differently.
The boy has told The Associated Press that he didn’t consider Peterson his girlfriend but that they did have sex.
The 25-year-old former Lexington teacher and the eighth-grader were found in Mexicali, Mexico, on Nov. 2.
The Associated Press previously named the boy as police searched for him but stopped using his name in reports after authorities charged Peterson with a sex crime.
In addition to the federal charges, Peterson faces state charges including kidnapping, child abuse and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Prosecutors have said they ultimately expect Peterson to face charges in only one jurisdiction. The federal charges carry a possible sentence of 10 years to life in prison and a $250,000 fine or both.
A judge will hear the results of the psychological evaluation on Dec. 10 to determine whether Peterson should remain in custody.
——— On the Net: U.S. District Court-Nebraska: courts.gov
