Woman jailed for having sex with boy

A Philadelphia woman was sentenced yesterday to six years in New Jersey state prison for having sex with a 13-year-old boy more than 100 times, authorities said.

Pamela Torres, 35, pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of a child and acknowledged having a sexual relationship with the boy in her former home in Elk Township, Gloucester County, between September 2004 and April 2006, authorities said.

According to the Gloucester County Prosecutor's Office, the victim's guardian said the teen is "borderline retarded" and "now struggling with confusion over how to relate to female adults and girls of his own age."

Superior Court Judge Robert P. Becker Jr. took that into account when sentencing Torres to six years of a possible 10-year term, the prosecutor's office said.

Becker also noted that Torres was a first-time offender who had numerous letters of support from family members.

According to the prosecutor's office, Torres' attorney, Nicholas Manzi, argued for the minimum five-year sentence, claiming that she was dealing with depression, addiction and an abusive spouse when the relationship with the boy occurred.

Torres also has an 11-year-old son with disabilities, Manzi said.

When released, Torres will be on parole for 15 years and will be required to register as a sex offender under Megan's Law. *