A suspended Pleasantville High School teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a student pleaded not guilty Thursday.
Jessica Gaeckle, 30, of Galloway Township, is charged with two counts official misconduct for having sex with the then-18-year-old student.
She also is charged with hindering apprehension for allegedly telling the unnamed student to destroy evidence after learning of an investigation.
Because he was an adult at the time, the case rises to a criminal level due to the teacher-student relationship.
The state has offered a plea deal that would require Gaeckle to forfeit all current and future public employment and serve a five-year prison sentence, Assistant Prosecutor Erika Halayko told the judge.
Gaeckle's attorney, Robert Agre, said he has requested the grand jury transcripts and also will be making a motion to obtain the school's investigation into the matter.
She is charged with two counts of official misconduct and one count of hindering apprehension.
Gaeckle was arrested in January and released on a summons.
Agre declined to comment on the case.
