Teacher Gets 187 Years Behind Bars for Sexually Abusing Teen Students, Living with One After She Turned 18 By Chris Spargo

An Arizona teacher convicted of sexually abusing and assaulting two of his students was sentenced on Tuesday, Oct. 28.

Cory Kapahulehua, 44, will now serve 187 years in prison after a jury convicted him on all 17 counts he faced at trial. This includes: molestation of a child, sexual conduct with a minor, sexual abuse, aggravated assault and attempted sexual conduct.

Those charges stem from the teacher’s relationship with two students, ages 14 and 17, which both began in August 2021 while he was working at the Arizona Agribusiness and Equine Center in Mesa.

The younger student told authorities that she and Kapahulehua had sex on school grounds until January 2022 when he was dismissed from his job, according to the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office. She said that the two continued to meet up after that for sexual encounters, which took place at a hotel near the school and a nearby parking garage. 

The older victim said that she and Kapahulehua had sex at his apartment while she was underage, according to the attorney’s office.

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Prosecutors said during Kapahulehua’s trial that the teacher organized a fundraiser to help the older victim get enough money to move out of her parents’ home when she was still 17. Then, 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,” said Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. “I’m proud of these girls for having the courage to come forward and stop him from victimizing any children ever again.”

Kapahulehua had entered a not guilty plea to all charges. His lawyer did not respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.