PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. -- A Boynton Beach music teacher accused of having sex with one of her students has agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors that will keep her from spending the rest of her life behind bars.

Carol Flannigan pleaded guilty to lewd and lascivious molestation on a child under 12.

Flannigan was originally charged with capital sexual battery after a student said they'd been having sex for a year and a half. It allegedly started when he was just 11 years old.

Police said the Rolling Green Elementary teacher met the boy when he was in fourth grade and carried on a sexual relationship with him until he was 13.

Flannigan had developed a close relationship with the boy and his family after he took her music class, inviting him and two younger brothers to sleepovers at her Boca Raton home.

The boy's mother became suspicious when she found sexually suggestive text messages on his cell phone, investigators said.

The Department of Children & Families began investigating Flannigan in 2002 after her husband reportedly told a marriage counselor that he was jealous of his wife's relationship with the student and that the two had romantically kissed.

DCF and police concluded there was no indication of sexual abuse or inappropriate touching and closed the case after the boy told an investigator that he had "'tap kissed' Flannigan on the lips but that he did not feel uncomfortable," according to the report.

Douglas DePue filed for divorce in February 2003, but said the divorce was unrelated to the alleged relationship with the boy.

Flannigan had until Tuesday to make a plea. In exchange, she'll get a five-year prison sentence and 10 years of probation.