A Long Beach judge ordered a popular former Lakewood High School English teacher to serve three years in prison and register as a sex offender for life Friday morning.

Mary Jahn, 53, was arrested in September 2017 after a former student alleged Jahn had sexually abused her for three years. The accusations included carving her initials into the student’s hip and practicing bondage on the victim while she was underage. She is now 25.

Jahn was originally charged with nine felony counts and faced up to eight years and four months in prison. In September, she pleaded not guilty and “staunchly denied” the accusations, but she agreed on Nov. 9 to plead no contest to one count of lewd acts upon a child.

Judge Laura Laesecke handed down the maximum sentence for the charge Friday morning and Jahn, who had been out of jail on bail, was taken into custody.

Mary Jahn is lead away in handcuffs after her sentencing in Long Beach November 30, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova.

Prior to the proceedings, Jahn had been waiting in the courtroom, flanked by her wife and family members.

Jahn’s lawyer Leonard B. Levine said he had many former pupils of Jahn’s ready to testify about the “many wonderful things” she has done for students over the years. But Jahn opted to plead no contest to the reduced charges instead of heading to trial.

“Hopefully that legacy will remain despite the resolution of this case,” Levine said.

In addition to the prison sentence, the judge gave a 10-year protective order to the victim and ordered Jahn to stay at least 100 yards away from her and not contact her in any way.

Mary Jahn talks to her attorney Leonard Levine during her sentencing in Long Beach November 30, 2018. Photo by Thomas R Cordova.

It was expected the victim would give a statement at the sentencing, but she ultimately decided that morning not to, though she was in the courtroom.

“She’s happy that we were able to resolve it without going through a trial and having to testify again,” said Deputy District Attorney Troy Davis.

The victim gave emotional testimony in May during a preliminary hearing about the alleged relationship.

“It’s often difficult for victims to face their accusers and talk about those things they went through in open court,” Davis said.

Valerie Osier is the Social Media & Newsletter Manager for the Long Beach Post. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @ValerieOsier