CHULA VISTA, Calif. - Tearful and apologetic, a South Bay music teacher was forced to face the underage student he had sex with in court.
Nearly 100 people, showed up to support popular former Bonita Vista High music teacher Jason Mangan as he was sentenced for having sex with one of his students.
Mangan was sentenced Friday to three years’ probation, probation that begins with one year in jail, and he'll also have to register as a sex offender for life.
Supporters telling the judge he was a kind of transformational teacher, who'd changed lives for the better.
“Character matters and his character matters,” said Mona Freel, the mother of three children who’d had Mangan as an instructor.
But it was another former student who said Mangan had also changed his life.
“I have been carrying guilt and shame that never belonged to me.”
His victim, referred to only as John Doe in court spoke with emotional and sometimes angry words, describing a sexual relationship with his teacher he said began when he was 15-years-old and continued past his 18th birthday, sex acts with Mangan that happened over 60 times. He called him a teacher with a double-life.
“All this love ever really was, it was sex, deceit, manipulation and conditioning.” he said.
At one point he addressed Mangan directly, who turned around to listen.
“I'm perusing my dreams now and I never want to hear from you again,” he said.
The last word came from Mangan in a plea for probation, with deep remorse, he told the judge his students are his life.
“They are the reason I get up every day, they are the reason I breath and the fact that I hurt one of them will kill me forever,” he said tearfully.
“I just have to say I’m sorry,” Mangan said.
