Mother gets 12 years for “stealing” son’s education

Tanya McDowell has plead guilty to first-degree larceny and conspiracy, after she fraudulently enrolled her son in a school district.

Prosecutor’s say Connecticut mother, Tanya McDowell, stole money from tax payers by putting her son in the wrong school.

McDowell entered her plea on Wednesday in Norwalk Superior Court under the Alford Doctrine, meaning she doesn’t admit guilt but concedes the state has enough evidence to convict her.

McDowell’s 12-year-sentence also includes four counts of drug possession and sale charges she plead guilty to.

McDowell was homeless at the time she was charged with felony larceny. Prosecutors allege she used her baby-sitter’s address to send her son to school, rather than the district of Bridgeport where her last home was.

The case drew national attention, with support from civil rights group. Despite the support of the NAACP, the defense was unable to get the case dismissed.

The Hearst Connecticut Media Group reports her lawyer says she insists she’s not guilty. Lawyer Darnell Crosland says people “shouldn’t be arrested for stealing a free education.”