from www.cincinnati.com – An ex-teacher meets the legal definition of “insane,” a psychologist testified, because medical conditions, medications and alcohol use combined in a “perfect storm,” preventing Stacy Schuler from comprehending the wrongfulness of her alleged sex with teen boys.

“I believe she had a severe mental disease when she participated in those sexual acts with those guys,” testified Kenneth Manges, a Cincinnati forensic psychologist who evaluated Schuler, 33, of Springboro.

But prosecutors argued that Schuler should be held responsible for her actions.

Schuler, who resigned from her teaching job at Mason High School in February, faces decades in prison if convicted of sex acts with five former Mason students during the fall of 2010. Her trial, which began Monday in Common Pleas Court, could conclude today; the courtroom overflowed with spectators Wednesday, requiring additional chairs to be brought in.

She has pleaded not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity to 16 felony counts of sexual battery and three misdemeanor counts of providing alcohol to minors. Manges’ testimony, spanning nearly two hours, formed a cornerstone of her insanity defense.

Schuler’s attorneys have argued that it’s unknown whether the sexual acts occurred, because Schuler has no memory of them.

Prosecution witnesses testified that semen linked to at least one boy was found on Schuler’s bedding, and that Schuler had plotted her insanity defense in advance.

On Thursday, prosecutors are expected to present an expert to rebut Manges’ opinion, followed by closing arguments, then a verdict from Judge Robert Peeler.

Schuler waived her right to a jury trial, and courtroom observers say it’s unlikely she will testify in her own defense.

To succeed with the insanity defense, Schulers’ lawyers must show by a majority of the evidence that she suffered a mental problem that blocked her ability to understand right and wrong.

In recent years, only about 2 percent of all criminal suspects pursued an insanity defense – and only about one-third of those secured an acquittal for mental-health reasons, experts have said.

If the insanity defense fails, the judge must decide whether prosecutors proved Schuler’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Manges, the defense expert, testified that psychological tests on Schuler produced results that were “grossly inconsistent” with the conduct she’s accused of, he said.

“It would not be her style, her approach, on an everyday basis to be someone who would commit those acts,” Manges said. “Something else…had to be happening, had to be affecting that behavior.”

Schuler’s mother, Judith Schuler, and other witnesses testified that the alleged sex with teen boys would be extremely out-of-character. A health teacher, Stacy Schuler strongly believed young people should abstain from sex, Judith Schuler said. In fact, her daughter felt so strongly about that topic that she turned down a job offer from a prestigious school district because the district didn’t support an abstinence-based curriculum, Judith Schuler said.

Manges testified that one of Schuler’s medical conditions, polycystic ovary disease, can cause increased sexual desire because it heightens testosterone.

In addition, Schuler suffered from bipolar disorder and other conditions that, when combined with alcohol and a prescription, Zoloft, prevented her from discerning right from wrong.

Schuler was prescribed Zoloft in February 2009 to treat irritable bowel syndrome – generally a “very helpful medication,” Manges said. But research shows some users “go into a psychotic, amnesiac state…(they) may do things that are out of their control and out of their memory.

“Its a known phenomenon,” he said. “The combination of alcohol with the Zoloft in a person with a proclivity for a manic condition is ’a perfect storm.’”

Defense witness Harry Plotnick, a Cincinnati attorney and consultant in toxicology, testified: “The combined effects of the use of Zoloft and moderate-to-heavy alcohol consumption is consistent with the aberrant behavior described, as well as the memory losses.”

But he also testified he had no way of knowing whether or not Schuler really has no memory of the alleged sex incidents, and he conceded: “If you’re guilty of something you may indicate that you don’t remember anything about it.”

Although Schuler’s decision to drink alcohol was voluntary, “the effect that Zoloft had with the coupling of the alcohol was not voluntary,” Manges said.

Getting drunk willingly is not considered a valid legal defense for committing a crime.

Assistant Prosecutor Teresa Hiett said bad judgments made while intoxicated on alcohol should not result in “a get-out-of-jail free card.”

Hiett also asked how the incidents could have happened repeatedly without Schuler becoming aware.

“Wouldn’t she be put on notice the second time, the third time, the fourth time and the fifth time?” Hiett asked. “Isn’t it at some point back on her? Isn’t she responsible for voluntarily ingesting Zoloft and copious amounts of alcohol, knowing full well that she could have blackouts — that she’s not going to remember?”

Manges replied: “She has a responsibility to use the drug wisely and the alcohol appropriately.”

However, he said, “people who have a severe mental defect are unable to stop themselves, to act appropriately.”

In other testimony Wednesday, former students, co-workers and friends of Schuler painted a portrait of a dedicated teacher who genuinely cared about students and respected the boundary of student-teacher relationships.

Tyler Walton, a former student who flew here from Fort Myers, Fla., said that Schuler helped him during a time of extreme emotional distress when he was dealing with the death of his mother and confusion about his sexual orientation.

“Ms. Schuler was kind of like my surrogate mother throughout my high school career,” he said. “She helped me realize I am an amazing person and my life is worth living.”

Madison Ewing, who attended Mason for three years before moving to Kentucky, described Schuler as a teacher who would go “above and beyond” her role as an educator. She broke down in tears as she recounted how Schuler helped her through a bad situation.

“She really helped me bounce back from what happened to me,” said Ewing. ” She never turned anybody away. I could go into her room in panic mode almost and she had an instant way of calming you down.”

Another former student, Daniel Santos, who graduated in 2010, testified that Schuler helped him through a deep depression and to beat a drug habit.

“I think it is safe to say that had it not been for her, I very well may not be here today,” he said.

Co-workers of Schuler praised her professionalism.

Robert Ellis, a retired CPA who coaches varsity soccer at Alter High School, said Schuler worked alongside him for six years as a trainer at the Kettering school. He called her an “exceptional” trainer who’s “dearly missed.”

Emily Shiverski, who taught with Schuler for six years at Mason, said male students might have misinterpreted Schuler’s friendly personality and generosity as flirtatiousness.

On cross-examination, she said that Schuler struggles with confrontation and that it was hard for her to sometimes put her foot down and act as a disciplinarian.

“Teenagers are like wild animals,” she said. “They can smell your fear.”