Teacher sentenced in witness tampering

A Gloucester County teacher has been sentenced to four years in prison for trying to persuade a 17-year-old student to recant allegations of a sexual relationship with another teacher.

Emma Painter, 44, of Clayton, was allowed to remain free on $10,000 bail after sentencing on Wednesday, pending appeal, which her defense attorney, Vincent Campo, said would be filed.

"She most definitely will appeal," Campo said. "That's 100 percent guaranteed."

Painter no longer holds the right to public employment and lost her pension, said Bernie Weisenfeld, spokesman for the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office. Painter had been a tenured physical education teacher and a field hockey coach when she was accused in May 2007 of witness tampering and misconduct.

Prosecutors, who sought an eight-year sentence, said Painter pressured the female victim to recant allegations against Erica Umosella, another Kingsway health and physical education teacher.

Umosella, 29, of Glassboro, pleaded guilty to having the consensual sexual relationship during the 2006-07 school year and has been sentenced to probation.

Painter was offered a similar plea deal, but chose to go to trial instead. She was convicted in December after a nonjury trial before Superior Court Judge M. Christine Allen-Jackson.

At the time Painter was convicted, Allen-Jackson said that Painter tried to convince the student, through conversation and notes, that she held Umosella's job and freedom in her hands, and that Painter suggested the student should get Umosella out of jail.