Last updated on Aug. 14, 6:30 a.m.
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A former Philadelphia teacher accused of trying to solicit pictures and a sexual relationship from a teenage girl pleaded guilty to a single charge on Tuesday in a deal with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.
Percy Fields, a former Girls’ High teacher, pleaded guilty to a single charge: corruption of minors. Prosecutors quashed all of the other charges.
Fields was charged in March with several offenses, including unlawful sexual contact with a minor. He was accused of sending money to a 16-year-old sophomore via CashApp so she could buy food — in exchange for sexual pictures and favors.
As part of the plea deal, Fields was sentenced to three years probation, and he must register as a sex offender.
The District Attorney’s Office said it would seek a high bail, but Percy stayed out of prison. A spokesperson for the DA’s Office said in a statement, "The sentencing guidelines for what he was charged with were 3-12 months incarceration. Based on factors including that there was no physical contact nor photos exchanged, this was Fields' first contact with the justice system, and other mitigating factors that I can't disclose to you, the judge sentenced him to probation.
"As investigations continue, more facts are obtained. So we felt that the the early decision for high bail was justified at that time. We have no further comment."