Teacher gets 10 years for sex crimes

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) - A former Portsmouth teacher has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for indecent liberties with a student in the late 1970s.

Clarence Cornelius Sykes was fired from Portsmouth Public Schools last February when he was arrested.

Sykes, 57, of the 3000 block of Clover Meadows Drive in Chesapeake, was charged with two counts of indecent liberties with a minor.

The charges stem from two incidents that allegedly occurred in 1978 and 1979 in Portsmouth, Va.

Police say detectives received information in January 2012 from the accuser, who was 11-years-old at the time of the alleged crimes.

Sykes worked at I.C. Norcom from October 1997 to June 2001 and again from August 2005 until Feb. 17, 2012.

Upon his arrest, Portsmouth Public Schools spokeswoman Maureen Mizelle said Sykes was suspended without pay.

Before his most recent employment at I.C. Norcom, Sykes worked at Churchland Middle School.

Mizelle said a background check was done on Sykes before he was hired both times, but the checks didn't produce any red flags.