First Judicial District Judge Chantel Contiguglia sentenced a 28-year-old former Jefferson County paraprofessional to four years in prison Friday for sexually assaulting a 16-year-old student.

Imagine Kay Ewer’s time in prison will be followed by 10 years to life of probation under the state’s Sex Offender Intensive Supervision program.

Ewer pleaded guilty to contributing to the delinquency of a minor in the first degree and sexual assault on a child by one in a position of trust in November, according to a news release from the First Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

Ewer worked for Jefferson County Public Schools from 2015 to 2023, holding positions as a school nurse, paraprofessional and teaching assistant. She then worked at Brady Exploration School in Lakewood from August 2023 to November 2023.

The Lakewood Police Department received a report in November 2023 that there was inappropriate writing on a worksheet of the victim — a 16-year-old boy with an undisclosed disability. 

Investigations found that staff noticed “favoritism” toward the student and evidence suggested that Ewer started an inappropriate relationship with the victim in September 2023, according to the release. 

There was evidence of frequent sexual encounters, constant digital communication with repeated derogatory remarks directed at the victim and the introduction of drugs, alcohol and weapons.

Brynn Chase, a special victims prosecutor, showed evidence of how Ewer introduced the victim to fentanyl and, in the thousands of text messages sent, Ewer asserted that she wanted the victim to bring a gun to their sexual encounters and directed the victim “to bring the gun to school and shoot another faculty member in the leg,” Chase said.

Chase also noted that this wasn’t the first time there was evidence of Ewer acting inappropriately with a student, according to the release. 

“The defendant preyed on my son, leading him to believe she genuinely cared for him, all while exploiting him for money and manipulating him into thinking he was “the one,” the victim’s mother stated at the sentencing. “What makes this even more painful is that I trusted the defendant. Had I known what was truly happening, I would never have allowed her such close access to him.”

Contiguglia noted that though this was Ewer’s first felony conviction, the situation was “particularly aggravating” due to the position of trust and drugs introduced to the young victim. 

While out on bond in this case, Ewer was arrested for a drug offense in Douglas County, according to the release.

“I just want to apologize to the victim and the victim’s family. I’m really sorry; this will never happen again,” Ewer said to the court.

Ewer’s arrest in January 2024 marked the beginning of five similar cases throughout Jefferson County.

Luis Fernando Robles-Luevanos, a family liaison at Creighton Middle School, was arrested in February for allegedly sexually assaulting children.

Justin Martinez, who worked at several JeffCo schools in afterschool care programs, was arrested in May for an alleged sexual assault on a child. Chloe Castro, a social worker in the district, was also arrested in November on similar charges.

In December, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office announced that it was conducting an investigation into David Weiss, the school district’s chief of schools, that involved possession of child sexual assault material.

Weiss was found dead in Maryland weeks after he was terminated following the criminal investigation.

“Over the past year, multiple individuals in positions of trust within Jefferson County have been accused and charged with similar offenses,” Chase said, according to the release. “While the school district plays a critical role in addressing and preventing such behavior, the criminal justice system’s ability to offer accountability only comes through collaboration and a common goal of safety.”