Using Racism as a Defense?! Should there be laws against blatant racism?

I do not know the exact validity of this article or its sources, regardless, say it is true, what do you all think about this? Here's the article
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/04/17/texas-teacher-claims-she-couldnt-have-fondled-black-student-because-shes-racist/
A Texas teacher claims she couldn’t have fondled a black student because she’s "too racist".
That's what the defense is saying anyway. They are using her apparent racist views to defend her that she "doesn't EVEN like to touch black students". I think this defense is ludicrous, if anything it gives her more cause to abuse the black students. She clearly devalues their autonomy and personhood due to her, self proclaimed racism, therefore that would justify her mistreatment of her students I would think. "The girl also told police that she asked the teacher to stop touching her and was made to stand out in the hall without any lunch — but Stokes also denied that". Regardless of the touching, she could be prosecuted for making her student miss lunch. Under no circumstances should a human be punished by restricting basic properties for life.
So what about this "racism defense"? Is her self declared racism a valid defense for not touching the black student?
"Stokes’ attorney, Patty Maginnis, said that any racist comments made by here client were “not proof that any crime has been committed.” " 
So as of now, 1. we have accusation of touching, 2. accusation of student being forced to miss lunch 3. verbal confirmation of descrimation 4. Lunch record report of student not eating lunch.

There are no laws against racism. I think that it is going to be difficult to prove that she molested the student, but mistreatment, neglect, and prejudice is there. The prejudice, I would think even gives more clues that the teacher would touch the student. But is this causality? Probably not. But should there be laws against blatant discrimination? I think there should be. If there was a law against blatant discrimation, she would have no defense, and it would be thrown out in court.
Absurd that she is able to use racism to defend her case I believe.

If she is guilty, or atleast charged with some sort of hate crime, what should happen to her? Should she be imprisoned? Forced to take a class on racism? I really dislike how the justice system deals with people like her, clearly she is just fucking ignorant, and she definitely does not need to be teaching in public schools. But I am a person that thinks people should be taught and forgiven. Prison is not going to help this person, we need a society that treats racism, not isolates it.

Wachu guise think?  I'm trying to think progressively on this one.