Tribune Chronicle / Raymond L. Smith Eric Kline, a former Warren G. Harding teacher, left, standing with attorney Michael Partlow, was sentenced to 18 months in prison Wednesday by Trumbull County Common Pleas Judge Ronald Rice.

WARREN — Former Warren G. Harding High School special education teacher Eric Kline was sentenced Wednesday to 18 months in prison and will be registered as a sex offender.

Kline, 25, was convicted Oct. 30 on one count of sexual battery for having sexual contact with a 16-year-old girl in a Harding classroom.

The victim’s mother told the court the victim still has anxiety attacks and has had trouble communicating with peers because of what has happened. She describes her daughter having closed herself off from others and is angry.

“I try to spend as much time with her as possible,” she said. “It is hard. I wish I could take her pain away.”

Trumbull County Assistant Prosecutor Diane Barber said Kline used his position as a special education teacher to commit his crime.

“He used social media to communicate with her,” Barber said. “He used Snapchat, which is secretive by nature because it can disappear after it is read.”

Barber said the two teenagers who testified at the trial, the victim and a friend, were excellent witnesses, which assisted in Kline’s prosecution.

Kline said over the past eight months, he has Kline said over the past eight months, he has experienced regret, embarrassment and sorrow for what this has done to his family, especially his 8-year-old son, and to the Warren City School District.

“I never meant to hurt anyone,” Kline said. “I don’t like to hurt anybody and just knowing that in any situation somebody was in pain and that it involved me, your honor, that’s something that breaks my heart.”

He begged for mercy, hoping not to be sent to prison.

When questioned by Rice about the victim, Kline said he does not know the level of pain she has gone through.

“If I could, I would apologize over and over again,” Kline said. “I truly apologize.”

In preparing to read his sentence, Rice said Kline has thrown away his education, his career as a teacher and his reputation, simply to satisfy a perverse sexual need.

“You sullied the most sacred trust a teacher can have,” Rice said. “Any teacher — or any rational person over the age of 18 — has been taught and knows better. You do not touch a juvenile, period.”

Rice said he sentenced Kline to 18 months in prison because the student has likely suffered mental injury and psychological harm and he has not shown genuine remorse or accepted responsibility for his actions.

Kline’s attorney, Michael Partlow, said he will appeal the sentence.

As a Tier III sex offender, Kline will have to register with the county sheriff’s department anytime he moves for the rest of his life.

The victim’s family said they are pleased with the sentence given to Kline and they hope to move forward.