WASHINGTON -- Their crimes shock us -- shattering the image of women as caretakers and protectors of children.

They are female sex offenders, and lately, they've been making headlines in our area and across the country.

News4's Julie Carey takes a look at what's behind the trend and the crime itself.

When we hear the term "sex offender," most of us automatically picture a man, but twice in the past year in our area the accused sex offender has been a female teacher.

While the number of female sex offenders is still small compared to male offenders, more are now being reported to police.

Three teachers -- from Montgomery County, Fairfax and Spotsylvania -- all accused of sexually molesting their students. On the sex offender registries, women are now taking their place alongside the men: 232 women listed in Virginia, about 140 in Maryland and seven in the District of Columbia.

Kayla: I thought at the time I was showing affection. ... The little boy has no affection in his house.

This woman we'll call "Kayla" is a registered sex offender in the District. She says in 1994, in a deep depression, living in an abusive marriage, she began to reach out to her 14-year-old nephew, who was being beaten by his father.

Kayla: He and I started to bond. Misery loves company, I guess. That's what led to me allowing inappropriate touching, me being aware he had a crush on me and letting certain behaviors continue and not stopping it.

Experts say it's a common profile among female sex offenders. Virginia Beach psychologist Julia Hislop wrote one of the first books on the subject.

Hislop: Often they are women who are very needy. Sometimes they see the teenager as less threatening to them than grown-ups.

Also a common thread -- 75 percent of female sex offenders have themselves been the victim of sex abuse as a child.

Perhaps the best-known female sex offender is Mary Kay LeTourneau. More recently, Florida teacher Donna LaFave has been in the national spotlight.

Hislop: If you look at TV, well, they are all blond and beautiful and they are offending against folks who didn't really mind.

At a seminar for therapists, probation officers and corrections officials, Hislop warned that for years, society has often looked the other way when women sexually abuse children.

Hislop: Nobody wants to think of women hurting children. Nobody wants to think of women sexually abusing children. ... So particularly, when the offender is a mother, a grandmother.

Consequently, victims of females have a hard time coming forward ... being believed.

Kayla says it wasn't until three years after her brief involvement with her nephew that police called and stunned her with the news that she had committed a sex crime.

Kayla: The way I was thinking then was, if it's explained to me how I broke the law, I take my punishment. How did I break the law? I was just giving comfort to a child.

Kayla pleaded guilty and was sentenced to four years of probation with therapy. she must register as a sex offender until 2014.

Kayla: I came to realize it was a serious crime.

Kayla says being open about the crime is crucial -- she fears that until society is willing to confront and discuss the issue, children will be in danger.

Kayla: There's fear of people listening to what I have to say today. It's going to freak them out. ... Don't be afraid to talk about it because ... because it's the only way you're going to change it.