Ex-teacher accused of abuse
By Pat Reavy and Wendy Leonard
Deseret Morning News Friday, February 10, 2006
(Source: http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635183358,00.html)
A former teacher at Copper Hills High School has been charged in court for allegedly having sexual relations with one of her students.
Melinda Lee Deluca, 29, was charged in 3rd District Court with two counts of forcible sexual abuse, both second-degree felonies.
Deluca taught American Sign Language at the school. She was hired in 2001 and fired when school officials were made aware of the investigation into her alleged conduct in December, according to the Jordan School District.
The student, now 17 but who was 16 at the time of the alleged incidents, told police Deluca invited him to her house, near 4900 West and 9100 South, on Oct. 25 during school hours and they had sex, according to court documents.
Then, sometime between Nov. 1 and Nov. 15, the student said he again met up with Deluca, this time in his car at a park near the high school, 6000 W. New Bingham Highway, court documents state. Four other juveniles said they saw Deluca and the student kissing in his car, according to court documents.
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The teen's parents, who asked to remain anonymous to protect the identity of their underage son, said he was coerced into doing what he did with Deluca. They said they believe he was abused because he "wasn't mature enough to make a decision" in the matter.
"She's the adult and he's the child, no matter how you slice it," his mother said. "You cannot have an affair with a child. The terminology is not possible. It's abuse." She said her son acknowledges what happened and is trying to get his life back to normal but wants to maintain his privacy.
"People have a right to know what's happening in the schools," she said. "We send them to school thinking their teachers are fighting with us in the war against drugs, gangs, sex and all the things we know they face. We assume they have the same agenda as us, and when that trust is breached, it's devastating."
The Jordan School District declined comment on the case, noting that it was a "personnel issue."
Deluca was issued a summons to appear in court at a date yet to be determined.
This is the second incident in three weeks of a Utah educator being accused of inappropriate relations with a student.
A substitute teacher in the Tooele District was arrested in January after allegedly having sexual relations with a 17-year-old boy
[They said they believe he was abused because he "wasn't mature enough to make a decision" in the matter. ]
If he wasn't mature enough, he shouldn't have been granted the privilege of owning and driving a car either. Also, in some states he would been able to marry at that age.
I'm not condoning the actions of the woman, in this case, but to imply that the young man is going to suffer some kind of trauma because of it, is not dealing with reality. The parents outrage smacks of monetary benefit from a lawsuit and nothing more.
I know it is against the law but this woman's statement is absurd. You don't have to coerce a 16 year old male into getting it up.