Ex-Teacher Dropping Try To Withdraw Plea

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — A former teacher sentenced to 14 years in prison for receiving an explicit picture of a 15-year-old female student has given up his attempt to withdraw his guilty plea.

Larry Caillier II, who taught at Opelousas High School, was accused of getting the picture after he and the student exchanged explicit text messages.

Although Caillier pleaded guilty and received the sentence, he told a federal judge that his attorneys had persuaded him to enter the plea despite his innocence. Caillier said he did not ask the girl to take or send any pictures, although he acknowledged to having received the photo.

The Advocate reported that Caillier, in a court filing last week, said he would drop his effort to take back the plea.