http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0119neschoolnurse.html

School nurse guilty of child molestation

Michael Kiefer The Arizona Republic Jan. 19, 2006 12:00 AM

SCOTTSDALE - A high school nurse accused of fondling a 13-year-old boy was found guilty of two counts of child molestation in Maricopa County Superior Court on Wednesday.

Courtney Bisbee, 35, faces 10 to 24 years in prison on each count when she is sentenced Feb. 17 in Judge Warren Granville's courtroom.

She was found not guilty of two counts of public sexual indecency.

Bisbee waived her right to a jury trial, instead allowing the judge to pass his ver- dict.

Bisbee had a temporary position as a nurse at Horizon High School in Scottsdale. She was a single mother and also was looking after a teenage girl. Bisbee met the victim through the teenage girl's friendship with him.

Both the prosecutor and the defense attorney agree that Bisbee had three encounters with the boy. The first took place on Feb. 1, 2004, when, according to testimony from the victim and the other teens, the two kissed.

The next day, Bisbee came for the boy at his middle school and took him to her home, an action that cost her job. Days later, again according to the teens, Bisbee and the boy fondled each other while under a blanket in the presence of other teens, which led to the charges.

The father of one of the teens called police after he listened in on a phone call between Bisbee and the victim.

Deputy County Attorney Paul Kittredge said that Bisbee was the instigator of the touching. However, defense attorney Joel Thompson countered that the boy initiated the kissing and that an embarrassed Bisbee tried to make light of it.