Redlands Teacher Sex Alleged: 'She's a Clean-Cut American Girl' Defense Attorney Says

The defense attorney for a Redlands teacher accused of 41 felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse and oral copulation of a person under 18, as well as conceiving a baby with a student, described his client as "a clean-cut American girl . . .  having a hard time of it" after she pleaded not guilty to all charges Tuesday during a video arraignment telecast in a San Bernardino courtroom.

Whitehurst was in green inmate clothing over a white T-shirt with her dark hair down, and she sat against a green cinderblock wall at West Valley Detention Center as she spoke via the telecast to Superior Court Judge Kenneth Barr.

"She's a clean-cut American girl sitting in jail, so she's having a hard time of it," Whitehurst's attorney, James R. Gass of Redlands, told reporters after the hearing.

Deputy District Attorney Melissa Rodriguez requested a criminal protective order for an alleged victim she identified as John Doe, barring Whitehurst from contacting the recent Citrus Valley graduate she allegedly conceived a baby with.

Neither attorney would discuss the whereabouts or who had custody of the baby, who was born June 18 shortly after the boy, now 17, graduated with the Blackhawks Class of 2013.

Barr ruled before the hearing that no video, still photos or other recording would be allowed in the courtroom during Whitehurst's arraignment.

If convicted as charged, Whitehurst could face up to 29 years in state prison.

To read previous Redlands-Loma Linda Patch coverage of the allegations against Whitehurst, click the following links:

REDLANDS TEACHER SEX: Whitehurst Now Accused of 41 Sex Felonies with Former Students

Redlands Unified School District Denies Deliberate Failure to Report Teacher-Student Sex

MORE TEACHER SEX ALLEGED: Former RHS Students Claim Sexual Acts with Laura Whitehurst in Her Car, Classroom, Apartment

ALLEGED TEACHER SEX VIDEO UPDATE: Redlands School District Issues Statement

UPDATE: High School Teacher, 28, Accused of Having Sex and Baby with Student, 16