"I should know better:" 15 years in prison for Jermaine Evans, former dean of students guilty of sexual assault

MILWAUKEE -- A Milwaukee County judge sentenced 32-year-old Jermaine Evans, the former dean of students at HOPE Christian High School, to serve 15 years in prison and 10 years of extended supervision on Thursday, July 21st.

Evans in June pleaded guilty to one count of second degree sexual assault of a child. A second charge was dismissed as a result of that plea deal.

Jermaine Evans

According to the criminal complaint, a detective with the Milwaukee Police Department was alerted to a possible sexual assault of a child by a series of text messages that were apparently sent by Evans to the 16-year-old girl, a student at HOPE Christian High School.

Police say one of the text messages said: "Man, I been daydreaming about you." There were others that were much more graphic and sexual in nature.

Prosecutors say the girl indicated Evans touched her inappropriately, beginning when she was a young child.

Evans is also accused of having sex with the girl "approximately six times when she was 16," "approximately 10 times when she was 15," "approximately 10 times when she was 14," "seven to eight times when she was 13" and "one time when she was 11 or 12" -- according to the complaint.

HOPE Christian High School

When police spoke with Evans, the complaint indicates he said the victim "wanted a cell phone" and offered him "a deal," saying "she would do stuff if (Evans) got her a phone."

Prosecutors say Evans estimated that he had sex with the girl "15 to 20 times" since she turned 14.

The alleged sexual contact occurred at Evans' home, according to the complaint.

Jermaine Evans

The complaint indicates Evans admitted that he "knew it was wrong," and that there was "a lot of pressure and risk in having a sexual relationship with her," and that he wanted it to stop, but she wanted it to continue.

"I'm an adult who should know better, no matter the circumstances. It should have never taken place, period," Evans told the judge during his sentencing hearing.

"What on Earth could you have been thinking here? How on Earth did you think that this was going to end in a good fashion?" Circuit Court Judge Thomas McAdams said.

"My decision to engage in a sexual relationship was inappropriate and selfish. Inappropriate for obvious reasons," Evans said.

Evans was terminated from HOPE Christian High School as of April 20th.

Jermaine Evans