'Sexting' case officially in district court

A former Eunice High teacher arrested in an alleged “sexting” incident involving a student has been formally charged in state district court.
Jacquline Fruge’s case was initially consigned to Eunice City Court but was transferred to 27th District Court by agreement of attorneys for both sides.
Previously charged with the prohibited sex act with a student, a misdemeanor, Fruge is now charged with obscenity first offense, a felony.
Lineup was held Sept. 25 and her case was assigned to District Judge Ellis Daigle. Her arraignment date is Nov. 14.
Fruge was charged in December 2012 by Eunice police with prohibited sex act with a student after, they alleged, she sent a 17-year-old student images of her via phone text.
After several continuances in City Court, the case was moved to district court. There appeared to be a question on the defense’s part of whether the alleged crime fit the charge.
The original charge is punishable by up to $1,000 fine and/or a maximum of six months in jail.
Prohibited sex act with a student is also a Tier 1 sex offender offense, requiring anyone found guilty of it to register annually for the sex offender registry for 15 years.
The obscenity charge now lodged in district court is punishable by up to $2,500 fine and/or not less than six months nor more than three years, with or without hard labor.
Unless it involves a person under 17, it is not considered a sex offense and does not require registration as an offender.