She was accused of inappropriate conduct with a student and on Wednesday, former Rock Hill Middle School teacher Melissa Bare pleaded guilty to one count of sexual battery.

Bare, 36, of 1344 County Road 105, Kitts Hill, had one count of sexual battery dismissed as part of her plea agreement.

Lawrence County Common Pleas Judge Charles Cooper sentenced Bare to complete a treatment program at the Eastern Ohio Correction Center and four years community controlled sanctions.

He ordered her to register as a sexually-oriented offender and surrender her teaching license. She will report to the correctional facility early next year.

Her attorney, Derick Fisher, said Bare asked him to pass along her “deepest apology” to the victim and his family” and that she was sorry for any pain and suffering she had caused.

It is typically the policy of The Ironton Tribune to not identify victims of sex crimes.

“She understands she was in a position of authority and she took advantage of that authority,” Fisher said.

Fisher said Bare was having other troubles at the time of the alleged interaction with the student, but that since then, she had returned to church and looks forward to getting treatment for her problem.

Melissa Bare was indicted earlier this year after authorities were alerted to misconduct involving the teacher and a 16-year-old male student.