Prosecutor's Wife In Sex Charge

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - A 42-year-old former teacher's assistant avoided jail time for kissing a 15-year-old youth by pleading guilty to sex abuse and official misconduct.

Debi Mercer, who is the wife of the local disrict attorney and ran the local Little League, admitted she was caught kissing her daughter's ex-boyfriend in a parked car and that she asked others to lie about it.

She was sentenced yesterday to house arrest, probation, sex-offender counseling and community service. She was also ordered to pay up to $2,500 for the youth's therapy sessions and to stay away from boys under 18.

The youth's lawyer said her actions "went beyond kissing," though the pair did not have sex, and had "a serious effect" on the youth, including ridicule.