Marino Pleads Guilty to 'Indecent Liberties'

Former George Mason High School theatre arts instructor Frank Marino pleaded guilty last week to two charges of "taking indecent liberties with a minor" during a hearing in the Prince William County Circuit Court. He will be sentenced on July 1, and the prosecutors have recommended he be given a five-year suspended prison term.

Marino resigned from his post last month following his arrest in February on charges of having a consensual sexual relationship with a former 16-year-old student between October 2002 and August 2003 that included trysts at Manassas area motels in Prince William County. All the charges originally brought against Marino were dropped, except for the two "indecent liberties" counts.

Marino had been exceptionally popular with students and teaching colleagues. He taught theatre arts, dance and film studies at George Mason High for 10 years and spearheaded an enormous amount of extra-curricular activities. He was named the Falls Church School System's "teacher of the year" in 2001.