Kramer enters plea agreement

After being accused of having a sexual relationship with a student, former Fort Scott High School dance team instructor Abby Kramer entered into a plea agreement Friday.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Friday afternoon, but upon arrival Kramer's attorney and the Bourbon County Attorney Terri Johnson had reached a plea agreement in which the count of sexual exploitation of a child was dismissed and Kramer would plead guilty to three counts of unlawful sexual relations with a child.

The Fort Scott Police Department was notified on May 12 that Kramer, 23, had been participating in a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student.

Johnson said during the hearing that Fort Scott High School Principal Bob Beckham had received phone records from Mike Kramer that showed "thousands" of text messages and photos shared between the student and dance team instructor.

After questioning by Fort Scott High School Resource Officer Toby Nighswonger, the student admitted the relationship had begun in early November 2009 when the two had exchanged phone numbers on a field trip, organized by Abby Kramer who was working as a GearUp representative through Neosho County Community College. The student also admitted that they had engaged in sexual relations at Abby Kramer's home as well as on Bourbon County roads. Kramer admitted the same after being arrested in May.

Johnson said that the state recommends Kramer serve her punishment through probation and that two counts be served consecutively with the third served concurrently; however, the terms of the sentence will be up to the judge. Each of the three charges carry a maximum of 13 months in prison.

The sentencing will take place at 3 p.m., Friday, Oct. 29.