Former Plainfield North gym teacher Ashley Blumenshine planned to plead guilty to having sex with a teenage student but a single "issue" derailed the deal—at least for a couple weeks, her lawyer said.
"It was our intention to plead today," attorney George Lenard told Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak during a brief hearing Monday morning.
But "one issue" has gummed up the plea deal, Lenard said, "So we're going to need more time."
After the hearing, Lenard said he could not specify what was holding up the plea. Charles B. Pelkie, the spokesman for the state's attorney's office, also declined to comment.
Judge Bertani-Tomczak set an April 19 date for Blumenshine to return to court.
Blumenshine, 29, was arrested in January 2011 after Plainfield police caught her in the parking lot of the Kohl's on Route 59 with a 16-year-old Plainfield North student. Both Blumenshine and the teen reportedly admitted to the police that they had just had sex and were involved in an ongoing sexual relationship.
Blumenshine taught physical education and dance at Plainfield North until resigning in the wake of the sex scandal. She was also an assistant coach for the girls' golf and gymnastics teams.
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