A Washington substitute teacher has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for repeatedly engaging in sexual acts with a 13-year-old boy and filming the encounters. Andrea Lee Campos-Hernandez, 26, of Warden, Washington, also pleaded guilty to sending the victim explicit photos of herself.
The abuse began in February 2021 and continued until July 2022, by which time the victim was 15. Federal prosecutors stated that Campos-Hernandez filmed the sexual encounters and sent the victim racy photos for over a year.
The victim's mother expressed the profound pain caused by the abuse, telling the court, "one of the most painful memories I carry is hearing my son cry alone in his room in the middle of the night." The victim also addressed Campos-Hernandez, stating, "you no longer get to control my voice," and "you took away parts of my childhood that I will never get back."
The victim's family grew suspicious of the relationship and instructed Campos-Hernandez to stay away. They later reported her to the police, telling investigators they believed she was manipulating the boy by buying him gifts. Assistant United States Attorney Ann T. Wick noted that when the victim's classmates and teammates learned of the abuse, he became the subject of "gossip and poor, insensitive humor," leading him to avoid socializing.
During the sentencing hearing, Campos-Hernandez's defense attorney argued that in the small town of Warden, where young adults and adolescents frequently socialize, the teacher misunderstood the nature of their relationship. A psychologist testified that Campos-Hernandez was not a sexual deviant but was socially immature and lacked self-esteem. Prosecutors countered that as a trained teacher, she must have known her actions were wrong.
The victim's sister urged the judge to impose a sentence that "sends a clear message that every child deserves the same protection, compassion and justice, regardless of the gender of the victim or offender."