The former Lamar County School District teacher who recently pleaded guilty to statutory rape has been sentenced to a total of seven years with the Mississippi Department of Corrections, including three years in prison.
On Thursday, Circuit Court Judge Prentiss G. Harrell sentenced 40-year-old Jenny Christine Hipp to three years in custody of the MDOC and four years on post-release supervision. She also must pay a fine of $2,500, along with all court costs.
Hipp will be given credit for time served in the county jail, and will be required to register as a sex offender with the appropriate agency.
Hipp, who had served as a speech-language pathologist with the district since 2014, was arrested in June 2017 by Jones County authorities on a warrant from Lamar County. Her indictment states Hipp – who was 39 at the time of the offense – willfully engaged in sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old male.
She entered her guilty plea Nov. 12 in circuit court.
Per terms of her post-release supervision, Hipp must remain within a specified area; abide by a curfew of 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. unless work requires otherwise; and participate in any recognized program recommended by her field officer, among other stipulations.
In a statement issued shortly after Hipp’s arrest, Lamar County School District Superintendent Tess Smith said Hipp had been fired from her position at the district.
“I received a complaint on Thursday, June 15 (2017) and began an immediate investigation,” Smith said. “When I received information Wednesday regarding possible criminal behavior, I contacted the Lamar County District Attorney’s office.
“The employee has been terminated. We are cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation.”
Hipp is represented by Hattiesburg attorney Tangi A. Carter.
