Former Plainwell teacher sentenced for relationship with student

A former Plainwell High School teacher will be jailed for a year and spend 5 years on probation for an inappropriate relationship with a student.

Kelly Jay Laker, 62, was sentenced Friday, March 21, in Allegan County Circuit Court.

Judge Kevin Cronin explained his sentence.

“The sad reality is that I see sexual offenses against young people a great deal more than I’d want to,” Cronin said. “Each case is unique, but the common thread I see is all have a powerful effect upon the young victim and a ripple effect upon the victim’s family.”

Laker, of Wayland, was arrested in May 2013 and charged with two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of obstruction of justice. He pleaded no contest in December to the lesser charges of two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct with a student by a teacher.