No Miracle in Getting Pregnant by Student

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (CN) - A Redlands high school teacher who admitted having sex with three students told one of them that her pregnancy was the result of "divine intervention," part of "God's plan," and a "miracle baby," the boy claims in court.

Initially charged with 41 criminal counts, former Redlands Unified School District teacher Laura Elizabeth Whitehurst pleaded guilty to six felony counts of sexual abuse in 2013. She was sentenced to 365 days in jail and 5 years probation for her sexual escapades with three boys.

Four of the counts related to plaintiff John BB Doe, who fathered a child with Whitehurst.

Doe sued Whitehurst, the Redlands Unified School District and Citrus Valley High School in Superior Court.

The sexual relationship between Whitehurst, an English teacher and club adviser at Citrus Valley High School, and Doe, 16 at the time, began in the summer of 2012. What started as spending time together and holding hands at school functions led to sex of many descriptions, from June 2012 through June 2013, according to the complaint.

Doe claims their sexual contact included: "Whitehurst performing fellatio upon plaintiff; Whitehurst engaging plaintiff in sexual intercourse; Whitehurst insisting plaintiff engage in intercourse without the use of any birth control method; Whitehurst demanding plaintiff orally copulate her."

When Whitehurst ended up pregnant, she manipulated Doe "into believing the pregnancy was occurring because of 'divine intervention,'" the complaint states.

Doe claims Whitehurst told him their child was "a miracle baby" and that the pregnancy was part of "God's plan."

Doe claims that Whitehurst told him she had a "high-risk" pregnancy and that she called the high school principal to excuse Doe's absences so he could attend pregnancy checkups with her. She sent him photos of her naked body and pregnancy bump with a message, "good night daddy, I love you so much," according to the complaint.

Whitehurst gave birth to the child in June of 2013. She was arrested two weeks, later on July 1, after Doe's parents reported the relationship to the school, according to news reports.

The 41 charges against Whitehurst for sex and oral copulation with a minor were connected to her alleged abuse of three victims, including Doe. She pleaded guilty to four counts of unlawful sex with a minor and two counts of oral copulation with a minor.

Though sentenced to a year in jail on Aug. 28, 2013, Whitehurst was released on Jan. 5, 2014. She will have to register as a sex offender for life.

Doe claims Redlands Unified and Citrus Valley High School knew of Whitehurst's proclivities.

"Defendants knew or had reason to know that Whitehurst may have sexually abused plaintiff or others, thereby enabling plaintiff to continue to be endangered and sexually abused," according to the complaint.

Doe also claims that the district helped conceal Whitehurst's "sexual abuse of minor children."

Also named as a defendant is Sarah Seevers, a teacher who Doe says knew about Whitehurst's abuse.

Doe seeks punitive damages for negligence, negligent supervision, negligent hiring and retention, negligent failure to warn, constructive fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress, sexual battery, assault, sexual harassment and gender violence.

He is represented by John C. Manly with Manly, Stewart & Finaldi in Newport Beach.

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