SOUTH BEND — A former Elkhart teacher and soccer coach accused of an inappropriate relationship with a student pleaded guilty Monday to a lesser charge of battery.

Dennis M. Jay, 37, of Mishawaka, pleaded guilty to battery, a Class B misdemeanor, admitting that he pushed the then-17-year-old victim in the case.

Jay was given a binding sentence of two months in jail, all suspended, and one year of probation.

The new battery charge and the circumstances surrounding the infraction had not been part of Jay’s original charges when he faced three counts of child seduction, Class D felonies. As part of the plea, prosecutors dropped the felony seduction counts.

During Monday’s hearing, Jay told a judge that the battery happened last year when he shoved the teenager while the two were on the University of Notre Dame campus.

A spokeswoman for the St. Joseph County prosecutor’s office said Monday that the victim’s failure to cooperate with the investigation led, in part, to the dismissal of the prior counts.

“There were significant evidentiary issues that developed in this case,” Catherine Wilson said in response to a Tribune inquiry. “Specifically, the victim in the case indicated to the deputy prosecutor that she refused to cooperate with prosecution. This refusal to cooperate made it difficult to go forward with prosecution on the felony child seduction charges.”

The 17-year-old girl told authorities last year that she and Jay were having an intimate relationship, according to court documents. The teen had been a student at Elkhart Central High School.

As part of the plea agreement, Jay agreed to the permanent revocation of his teaching license. Wilson said the prosecution sought that condition to protect any potential future victims.

Had Jay pleaded guilty to the D felony charge of child seduction and the court treated the conviction as a misdemeanor, Wilson said Jay could have petitioned for reinstatement of his teaching license.

Jay declined to comment after Monday’s hearing.

Staff writer Alicia Gallegos:
agallegos@sbtinfo.com
(574) 235-6368