Disgraced teacher shocked at harsh 10-year prison sentence after repeatedly assaulting 15-year-old student

A former Oklahoma middle school teacher who has publicly admitted to having s*x with a 15-year-old student in her classroom was stunned when on Wednesday a judge sentenced her to 10 years in prison. Jennifer Caswell, 29, formerly known by her married name Saxton, pleaded guilty in June to second-degree r*pe and other related charges, a year after her arrest on suspicion of carrying on an inappropriate relationship with a minor. In May, Caswell appeared on the Dr Phil Show claiming that she was 'not a r*pist' and blamed the 15-year-old boy for making the first move. 'I didn't force anything. I didn't manipulate. I didn't take advantage,' she said at the time. On Wednesday, Harmon County District Judge Richard Darby sentenced Caswell to 15 years in prison, with five years suspended, for each of the six incidents involving s*x with the teenager. The sentences are to run concurrently, totaling 10 years behind bars for the 29-year-old divorced mother of one from Hollis. 'I can’t say that we had ever considered it being that harsh,' Caswell's attorney, David Cummins, told the station NewsOK after the hearing. Cummins said they had expected a maximum sentence of five years. Caswell, who has a 6-year-old son, will only become eligible for parole in 8.5 years. After her release, she will be required to register as a s*x offender. In the wake of Caswell's sentencing, the young victim's mother said she feels the disgraced teacher's punishment is fair. Caswell also faces a federal lawsuit filed by the victim's father, a pastor, who accused the former teacher, the Hollis School District, Board of Education, district superintendent and school principal of covering up the s*x crimes. The father, whose lawsuit seeks $1million in damages, alleges that at least two people saw Caswell engaged in s*ual acts with his son in her classroom. After she resigned in April 2014, but was allowed to keep her teaching credentials, Caswell had s*x with the boy in a vehicle, her house and the boy's father's house, according to prosecutors. After the woman followed the 15-year-old 650 miles to Mississippi, where he had been sent to stay with his mother, the boy began cooperating with authorities. Caswell has since had her teaching credentials revoked. During her appearance on the Dr Phil Show in May, Caswell suggested it was the boy's persistence that led to them having s*x in her classroom last April. See more photos after the cut...