The Hot Springs teacher who had sexual contact with a student after giving them alcohol is going to prison.
George Krenz told the judge today he was sorry, that what he did was wrong and that he deserved to be punished.
But the judge still gave him the maximum sentence: 15 years in prison. 

Even after George Krenz' wife of nine and a half years told the court he was her greatest gift from God, a judge decided not to show any mercy for the man who took advantage of his students. 

"I feel that there will be healing for the community and hopefully it will get his attention so that this never happens again," says state's attorney Lance Russell.

Five people took the stand to tell the judge how Krenz hurt them, including two of his victims, one set of parents and the other's sister. One of his victims said Krenz was her favorite teacher before he exploited her trust. 

His friends and family are saddened by the long sentence but even more confused about why the Hot Springs teacher committed the crimes in the first place. 

"Stunned. Totally stunned. I couldn't believe it. Least likely person that I have ever met to be faced with something like this," says Krenz friend and neighbor Kenneth Bowe.

State's Attorney Lance Russell who asked for the maximum sentence, says fifteen years in prison was justice for Krenz' victims. 

"He violated the trust of the school, the other teachers, the parents and those students," he says.

And Russell hopes the time spent behind bars will serve as a wake up call to the young former teacher.