Prosecutors plan to file additional charges against a married Indiana teacher accused of forcing teenagers, some as young as 13, to wear "Scream" masks during group sex, authorities said, via TMZ. The new counts could keep Brittany Fortinberry behind bars for life.
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Fortinberry, 31, faces allegations from a sixth juvenile accuser, officials told TMZ on Friday. This brings her total number of alleged victims to six. Morgan County prosecutors intend to add 24 felony charges at her April 3 court hearing, raising her total to 29, according to the outlet.
The new charges include five counts of level-one child molestation, plus sexual misconduct with a minor, dissemination of matter harmful to minors, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Morgan County Prosecutor Steven Sonnega told TMZ each child molestation count carries a 20- to 40-year sentence. If a judge orders consecutive terms, Fortinberry could face a lifetime in prison.
Teacher Allegedly Preyed On Students
Police allege Fortinberry invited teens to her home, gave them drugs, and engaged in sexual acts after putting her own children to bed. Prosecutors claim she assaulted one teen she hired to babysit her kids. Court documents state she offered boys $100 to $800 for photos of their genitals and sent them nude images of herself.
She also allegedly threatened to kill herself if her victims spoke of the abuse, per charging documents.
One accuser told investigators that when boys resisted, Fortinberry urged them, "Just let it happen." The former teacher, who worked at Martinsville and Eminence schools, allegedly preyed on students as young as 13.
Last month, Fortinberry faced initial charges of sexual abuse involving several students. She attributed her actions to a 150-pound weight loss, according to authorities.
The escalating case has rocked the Morgan County community. Fortinberry, arrested in February, remains jailed as prosecutors push for a bond increase from $20,000 to $150,000. Her trial is set for June 25. If convicted on all counts, she could face up to 262 years in prison, ensuring she spends her remaining years incarcerated.
