Woman sentenced for sex with teen boys

OSHKOSH - A 35-year-old Oshkosh woman is sentenced for having sex with three teenage boys. Tessa Gray pleaded guilty to repeated sexual assault of a child and sexual intercourse with a child in April. Gray admitted to having sex with 16- and 15-year-old boys multiple times last year.

She was emotional in Winnebago County court as she apologized for her actions.

"I wanted to apologize to the victims and their families, because I never meant to hurt anybody or cause anything like this," Gray said.

Gray faced more than 80 years in prison, but in a plea deal she pleaded guilty to repeated sexual assault of a child and sexual intercourse with a child. She admitted to assaulting three boys ages 14, 15 and 16. She says she performed oral sex and had intercourse with two of the boys nearly two dozen times. At sentencing Friday none of the victims came to court to speak and did not provide any statements to the court against Gray. Prosecutors argued Gray should be treated no different than a man in a similar situation.

"She took advantage of kids that had no life experience, no sexual experience and this is how they are exposed to it," said prosecutor Tracy Paider.

The sexual contact took place here at Gray's home. But what the judge says makes this case so disturbing is the number of victims and amount of time over which the assaults occurred.

"It's not a one time offense, not a two time offense, it's not a one victim, not a two victim, it's multiple victims, many times in many, many different circumstances," said Judge Thomas Gritton.

Gray's lawyer contends she continued the sexual contact with the boys out of fear the boys would stop being friends with her daughter. She was sentenced to 21 months in jail and 12 years of probation.

"Hopefully she realizes now that this behavior was completely unacceptable, it was criminal and it was wrong," said Paider.

As part of her probation Gray must register as a sex offender and complete any court ordered treatment programs.