Ohio should consider a zero-tolerance policy, enacting mandatory jail sentences and stiff fines for teachers found guilty of engaging in sexual conduct with their students.

Former Amelia High School teacher J. Eric Fouss, who could have gone to jail for five years on a sexual battery charge, instead Monday received five years probation. The sentence keeps him from having supervisory contact with juveniles, but allows him his freedom. Toughen the law and deter others in the future.

Fouss pleaded guilty last month to one count of sexual battery for having sex with a female student in 1998 and 1999. At the time, she was 17 and he was 23.

In any such case, the burden of restraint is on the authority. And despite the fact that she was above Ohio's legal age of consent (16), Fouss crossed the line. Scores of similar cases nationwide have been revealed in recent years, and they violate the rules of ethics and the public trust.

Three years ago, the state strengthened its "corruption of a minor" statute that raised the age of consent, amazingly at 13, to 16. It also increased the degrees of punishment for having sexual conduct with a child under 16 depending on the age difference between the adult perpetrator and victim.

Fouss won't carry the scarlet letter of a sexual predator; he must simply honor the terms of his probation.

Mitigating circumstances cited in this case were that the mother of the girl was aware of the liaison, and the girl testified that Fouss should remain free.

Neither circumstance comes close to excusing such egregious behavior on the part of a teacher.