(JUPITER, FLA) – A former teacher at Independence Middle School in Jupiter was sentenced to 3 years for having sex with a 16-year-old in a classroom closet, according to the Palm Beach Post.

Daniel Norment, 41, accepted two “best interest” guilty pleas for one count of ‘unlawful sexual activity with a minor’ and one count of ‘offense against a student by authority figures,’ leaving the Palm Beach courthouse in cuffs Monday morning.

Norment is authorized to avoid admitting guilt, but will accept that the pleas are ‘in his best interest.’

Judge Jeffrey Gillen additionally sentenced the former teacher to four years of probation after completing his 3-year sentence.

The plea deal comes one month after the unnamed victim filed a civil lawsuit against the Palm Beach County School District and the Independence Middle School Board for “allowing and enabling” the former teacher to “groom and then sexually assault her.”

The victim told authorities that Norment would frequently tell her she was “different and mature for her age”, and would give her “good grades for doing nothing,” according to the police report.

After the teacher applied grooming tactics over an extensive period, he coerced the victim, who is now 18-years-old, into having sex in a classroom closet.

The police report said that the girl, after waiting 2 1/2 years, came forth to authorities and filed a report, hoping that Norment would be unable to harm another student.

Norment is restricted from having contact with minors and as part of his sentencing, will be admitted into a sex offender treatment program.