LINDEN, Texas—A jury will decide today what punishment a former Atlanta, Texas, High School English teacher will face for a series of sexual encounters with a 16-year-old student last year.

Defense witnesses testified Wednesday they believe Melissa “Missy” Lee has suffered enough during the time since her arrest and pleas of guilty to three counts of indecency with a child and a single count of improper relationship between educator and student.

Lee, 33, pleaded guilty before 5th District Judge Ralph Burgess but asked that a jury determine her punishment.

“I...

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