BAY CITY, Mich. – A former substitute teacher with pleaded guilty to having sex with three students is receiving next to no punishment after the judge said it didn’t serve any purpose.

The Associated Press reports Heidi Eastman was sentenced for “three counts of attempted fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct” after she admitted the acts.

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She was ordered to pay a $50 fine and will receive no jail or probation time. She’s also required to register as a sex offender.

Her last name was Lewis when she was accused of having sex with three students during the summer of 2010.

Prior to learning her fate, Eastman read a letter to the court. Mlive reports:

“I dealt with major depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts. I attempted to take my life three times, one of which … ” Eastman broke down sobbing at this point. “I was in a coma for two days. It is very difficult to try to move on with your life when your life revolves around mistrial after mistrial. I felt I could never see the light at the end of the tunnel, so for me to say I feel like I have served prison time is not a statement I make lightly.”

“Eastman went on to paint herself as a victim in the case and said she is haunted by the fact that she accepted a plea offer and must register as a sex offender,” according to the news service.

“Even if we accept the defendant’s version as true, it doesn’t change the fact that she entered into, on her part, voluntary sexual contact with students, who she gained access to because she was a substitute teacher,” Bay County Assistant Prosecutor Jordan E. Case said in response.

Bay County Chief Circuit Judge Kenneth W. Schmidt said:

“The purpose of the statute … was to deter a teacher, who can and normally is in a position of authority and power over a student, from using that position … to induce sexual activity.

“The law, of course, prohibits a teacher from accepting such consent. In this court’s opinion, there are very serious legal issues that are involved in this case. The record appears absolutely void of any undue influence by the defendant, any force or any coercion by the defendant, which is what the statute assumes when it was passed. Clearly in my opinion, it was the use of extremely poor judgment on the part of the defendant; perhaps stupidity is a better way to phrase it.”

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The judge felt a harsher penalty didn’t serve any purpose.

“You’re free to go, ma’am,” Schmidt told Lewis, according to Mlive.