JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A former Mandarin High School teacher was sentenced on Thursday to spend 9 months in jail for simple battery on a female student.
Malachi Henry, a former high school driver's education teacher, was convicted of inappropriately a teenage girl.
Henry was a teacher for 28 years, but resigned from his job before termination proceeding went forward in 2007.
At his sentencing hearing, Henry didnt admit to do anything to the victim.
"She said so, and they just took the kid's word and the teachers are thrown under the road so to speak," Henry said in court.
In addition to spending 9 months in jail , Henry will also have to go to three months of treatment.
The victims' fathers told Channel 4 he is relieved the nightmare Henry caused his family is finally over.
"Justice has taken its course. I feel that the wheels of justice have prevailed. I'm very much pleased with what the judge came to in the verdict in there. We're happy with it," said the victim's father.
Four other charges are still pending against Henry from other girls who said Henry also touched them inappropriately and made sexual comments.
Prosecutor Andrew Garro said he would plan his next move with the parents of those girls. He also said Henry got exactly what he deserves.
"There was an abuse of power here. He was in a position of power and he took advantage of that and he committed a crime against these girls," said Garro. "Justice was served today."
Henry will not go to jail right away. He asked the judge to postpone his sentence so he could attend his daughter's graduation, and the judge approved his request.