A former Brevard County high school drama teacher will spend two decades behind bars for having a long-term sexual relationship with a student.

  • Dennis Turner got 20 years for sexual battery on a child
  • Relationship with 15-year-old lasted for 3 years
  • Turner apologized in court

The student — now a woman with two daughters — took the stand Wednesday and described herself as a lonely teen with a troubled home life who was taken advantage of more than a decade ago by Dennis Turner, a teacher 33 years older than her.

She said he promised her security, purpose and a sense of belonging, but it ended up an act to satisfying his own desires.

"A man extended his hand and offered his caring support. Later, that same hand would be used against me, and that support would become like payment for my silence and my services," she told the court.

Turner listened to that Wednesday after pleading guilty to 10 counts of sexual battery on a child.

The relationship began in 2003, when the girl was a freshman at Merritt Island's Edgewood Junior-Senior High School, and lasted for three years.

"She was 15. She was so impressionable," prosecutor Julia Lynch said.

Some of the acts happened at school, others at the teen's home.

In court, Turner was surrounded by family, friends and former colleagues, some of whom testified on his behalf asking the judge for leniency.

"He is not truly being seen for the genuine person that he is, the love that he offers," said one of them.

"It's not appropriate in our society; however, his actions were sincere and out of love, and not a sense of trying to be a predator," Turner's attorney, Greg Eisenmenger, said.

Turner apologized in court, saying he made a mistake and was sorry for the hurt he caused.

"I had empty nest syndrome, I had difficulties in my marriage and I had someone who needed me," he said.

The judge sentenced him to 20 years in prison and 10 years probation as a registered sex predator. If he violates that probation, he could face life in prison.

Turner's family declined to comment.