Sexual exploitation charge against former substitute teacher upgraded to felony

CEDAR RAPIDS - The Linn County Attorney's Office on Tuesday filed a more serious charge against Mary Beth Haglin, the Washington High School substitute teacher who police say had an ongoing sexual relationship with a student.

Haglin is now charged with a Class D felony offense of sexual exploitation. The charge carries a maximum five-year prison sentence.

The original charge against Haglin was an aggravated misdemeanor - which would have meant no more than two years in prison if Haglin was convicted. She pleaded not guilty to that charge.

In a motion filed Tuesday, Assistant Linn County Attorney Heidi Carmer said the bolstered felony charge comes because of 'new evidence” and notes Haglin's comments in media interviews.

'The defendant has participated in a series of public interviews in which she admitted engaging in a pattern or practice of sexual conduct with a student while employed as a teacher at Washington High School, which supports the more serious felony offense,” the motion states.

Carmer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Haglin appeared on the 'Dr. Phil” show on Oct. 17, and sat for filmed interviews with 'Inside Edition” and 'Crime Watch Daily” last month.

She has also spoken on the record with The Gazette and other local media outlets repeatedly since her arrest in July.

In those interviews, she has detailed her sexual relationship with a then 17-year-old Washington High School student. Haglin was a substitute teacher at the school from January to mid-May.

She is scheduled for arraignment on Friday, Nov. 4.