Former Newton Co. teacher pleads guilty to sex charges

COVINGTON - A former Newton County high school teacher charged with sexual exploitation of children has pleaded guilty. <br> <br> Robert Schwindler, 30, was sentenced to six months in jail followed by 10.5 years of probation. He also must pay a $5,000 fine, forfeit his computer and undergo sexual offender counseling under Superior Court Judge Sam Ozburn&#39;s sentence delivered Tuesday. <br> <br> Schwindler allegedly sent sexually explicit e-mail to an undercover New Jersey officer who was online pretending to be a 14-year-old girl. He also sent photos of young girls involved in various sexual activities. Schwindler resigned in January 2001. <br> <br> Newton County Sheriff Lt. Keith Crum said none of the nine pictures Schwindler sent was of local students and that there was no evidence to suggest the teacher had inappropriate contact with teen-agers. <br> <br> Schwindler, a Conyers resident, had worked at Newton High for three years. As a condition of his sentence, he forfeited his license to teach for 10 years.