Former teacher of year convicted in sex case

MEDFORD, Ore. - A former national teacher of the year has been sentenced to seven months in jail after he was convicted of sexually abusing a boy.

Mike Jager was named Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year in 1994.

Jager, 47, pleaded guilty in April to a charge of sexual abuse, admitting in court that he fondled the youth at least twice. On Monday, the former middle-school teacher avoided a possible six-year prison sentence when a judge agreed to a plea bargain.

In addition to serving seven months in jail, Jager is required to set up a high-school-equivalency diploma program for jail inmates. He also must serve 10 years of probation and pay a fine of $7,500 to the victim, along with restitution for counseling.