SAVANNA – A former West Carroll High School science teacher originally charged with criminal sexual assault for having a relationship with a 17-year-old male student has been sentenced to 4 years probation on a lesser charge.

Chelsey Wheeler, 26, pleaded guilty Sept. 10 to aggravated criminal sexual abuse. She was 24 when the crime occurred, and lived in Lanark.

She also must register as a sex offender for life.

An investigation began March 24, 2014. She was arrested that April 7 and resigned after charges were filed.

It was Wheeler’s second year teaching at West Carroll, but her first as a full-time teacher. During the 2012-13 school year, she taught science for half of the day at Chadwick-Milledgeville High School and half the day at West Carroll High.