Former Mo. teacher gets 6 years for sex acts

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) -- A former suburban St. Louis teacher is sentenced to six years in prison for performing sex acts on teenage students.

A jury this summer found 48-year-old Cathy Heminghaus guilty of statutory sodomy, sexual contact with a student and supplying liquor to a minor. She was sentenced on Wednesday.

In addition to the prison time, Judge Michael Jamison fined Heminghaus $1,000 for the alcohol-related crimes.

Authorities have said the incidents happened in 2005 and 2006 at Ferguson Middle School. Heminghaus was fired by the Special School District after her 2006 arrest.