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Former Brien McMahon High School art teacher John Tate was sentenced Friday morning in Stamford Superior Court to eight years in prison but will have to serve only one year. The other seven years of the sentence was suspended. He'll be on probation for 20 years.
Tate, 54 of Stamford, was arrested in April on charges of having sex with a 17-year-old student. He pleaded guilty to second-degree sexual assault and tampering with a witness. Police also alleged Tate provided the student with alcoholic beverages. He must register as a sex offender for the next 10 years.
Tate appeared before Judge Richard Comerford, who handed down the plea-bargained prison sentence. Neither Tate nor his attorney addressed the court.
Tate was chair of the Brien McMahon Art Department and involved in the high school's musicals. Last year, he was co-producer of Brien McMahon's production of "The Music Man." Tate resigned from the Norwalk Public Schools earlier this year.
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