Former Teacher Pleads Guilty to Lesser Charge in Sex Case

A former southwest Missouri teacher who was originally charged with a felony has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge involving sex with a student.

Thirty-one-year-old Elizabeth Ashley Morgan, an ex-teacher at Lebanon High School, pleaded guilty Monday to second-degree harassment, a misdemeanor. She originally was charged with having sexual contact with a student.

The Springfield News-Leader reports Morgan — who also used the last name King — was given a one-year suspended sentence and will serve two years of probation.

She was suspended after being was accused earlier this year of having an inappropriate relationship with a male student. Morgan is no longer works for the district.

Morgan initially taught drama, speech, and radio/TV at the Lebanon middle school. In recent years, she taught speech, theater and ACT/SAT preparation at the high school.