Former Catholic High School teacher pleads guilty to statutory rape

A former Knoxville Catholic High School teacher and coach pleaded guilty to statutory rape in a Knox County criminal court Friday morning.

Judge Mary Beth Liebowitz sentenced 35-year-old Dianne Dieterich to 4 years in prison. Dieterich will actually get probation for statutory rape of a male minor between the age of 15 and 18 years old.

Dieterich's attorney Greg Isaacs said Dieterich will also go through mandatory marital and sexual counseling. If Dieterich meets all of her probation criteria at the end of the 4 years, it will be cleared from her record.

Isaacs issued this statement on his client's behalf.

"Dianne Dieterich accepts responsibility for her actions," Isaacs said. Isaacs also asked the the privacy of everyone involved be respected.

The former Catholic High School cross country boys' and girls' coach was first put on administrative leave, then fired in August.

John Gill with the District Attorney's office said that students talking about Dieterich and a male student prompted Catholic High School officials to investigate.

The Department of Children's Services and the Knox County Sheriff's Office eventually took over the investigation, which was turned over to the DA's office.