MESA, AZ- A 44-year-old former teacher who started an online fundraiser to raise money for one of his sexually-abused students to move out of her home and into his apartment learned his fate this week.
According to PEOPLE Magazine, Cory Kapahulehua was sentenced to 187 years in prison after an Arizona jury convicted him of all 17 counts he was facing. The charges included molestation of a child, sexual conduct with a minor, sexual abuse, aggravated assault, and attempted sexual conduct.
The charges against Kapahulehua stem from his relationship with two students, aged 14 and 17, which began in August 2021 while he was working at the Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center in Mesa, the outlet reported.
According to the younger victim, she told investigators she and Kapahulehua had sexual relations on school grounds in January 2022, leading to his dismissal from his job, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. She told investigators the two continued to meet afterwards for sexual encounters, which took place at a local hotel and a nearby parking garage.
The second, older victim admitted to authorities that she and Kapahulehua had sex at his apartment while she was underage, the attorney’s office said.
During the trial, prosecutors alleged that Kapahulehua organized a fundraiser to help the 17-year-old obtain enough funds to move out of her parents’ home. When she turned 18, the victim moved in with Kapahulehua at his apartment, prosecutors said.
“This defendant used his position as a teacher to groom these students and take advantage of their trust,” Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell said. “I’m proud of these girls for having the courage to come forward and stop him from victimizing any children ever again.
PEOPLE reached out to Kaphulehua’s attorney for comment, however, he did not respond.
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