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Patience Perez sentenced to 60 days in Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach prosecutor talks about Patience Perez sentencing

By: Becca Mitchell

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Virginia Beach, Va. - The former Virginia Beach Schools employee who slept with a teenage student has received 60 days for her crimes in Virginia Beach.

Perez was arrested in 2013 after the 15-year-old Renaissance Academy student’s mother went to police after finding out about the affair. It was discovered that Perez slept with the student in both Virginia Beach and Norfolk.

At the time, Perez was employed as an assistant security guard at Renaissance Academy.

In late 2013, Perez pleaded guilty in both cities to two counts of indecent liberties by a custodian.

"I was the adult. I should have known better," said Perez during court Monday morning.

Sentencing in both cities was delayed due to various setbacks and with judges in each city saying they needed more time and information to render a decision.

In Norfolk, Perez was sentenced to two years (one year for each count) in March of 2014. However, the judge laid out a series of conditions that if met within a year, would mean she would not have to serve the sentence.

In early May, a judge found that Perez did meet all the requirements and therefore will serve no jail time for her Norfolk charges.

"I can't wrap my brain around that. She should do two years because she took two years of our lives. It's just ridiculous," says the victim's mother.

Virginia Beach prosecutor Paul Powers said in court Monday that if Perez were a man, the sentence would have been harsher. Powers has been involved in the Perez case since her 2013 arrest.

"I've had cases where it's a female victim but it seems like the sentiment is that the female is taken advantage of ... A young lady engaged with someone older," he says. "But it does seem that in this case the sentiment is that a 15-year-old boy can't be taken advantage of by an older woman."

He also says male victims with female perpetrators are less likely to come forward.

"He's still a teenager. And teenagers can be taken advantage of by adults and that's why the law doesn't differentiate based on gender," he says.

The victim is now 18-years-old and has an infant daughter from a different relationship. He has said that has given him something to live for after a dark time dealing with the Perez affair aftermath.

"This has not physically hurt me but mentally is has hurt me a lot," he says.

"There is an aftermath. We may never know how much this has actually affected him. Maybe he can move on with his life now that the case is finally over and have some closure," says Powers.

She is scheduled to begin serving her time in Virginia Beach on May 25th. She must remain a registered sex offender in addition to serving her time.

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