Jail for teacher who kidnapped pupil for Las Vegas sex

A blonde teacher who kidnapped a 15-year-old pupil in California and took him to a Las Vegas hotel where she had sex with him has been jailed in the US gambling capital.

“Being a teacher is a sacred trust. How dare you? How dare you?” Judge Joseph Bonaventure yelled at Tanya Hadden, 33.

He sentenced her to more than 12 years in prison for kidnapping, sexual conduct between teacher and student and statutory sexual seduction.

But he suspended all but six months of the sentence, meaning that with time served she faces only 40 more days in Nevada custody.

Hadden still faces related charges in California, and will be extradited within weeks, prosecutor Douglas Herndon said. Those charges carry up to nine years in prison.

Hadden and Richard Pena disappeared from San Bernardino’s Cajon High School. They were found at a Las Vegas Strip hotel-casino four days later.

The teacher broke into tears at yesterday’s hearing as the boy’s mother, Ida Pena, said Hadden ruined her son’s life and that the family “went through hell” while he was missing.

“You violated him and you violated us,” she said, glaring at Hadden.

Hadden’s lawyer, Jordan Savage, said her client was lonely after a recent separation from her husband.

“I was acting like a 15-year-old girlfriend,” Hadden told the judge. “I wasn’t acting like an adult.”

Hadden agreed that she needed therapy and apologised to Pena’s mother, saying, “I want peace to return to your family.”

Hadden could have been sentenced to 26 years in prison, but Judge Bonaventure told her: “You at least deserve a chance to rebuild your life.” He ordered her to be placed on strict sex offender probation and lifetime supervision.