Posted on 03/30/2015 3:27:17 PM PDT by Colofornian
BOUNTIFUL — A judge ruled Monday that a former Davis High School teacher will face separate trials on charges of sexually abusing three students.
Brianne Altice, 35, faces a total of 14 felony charges — including rape, forcible sodomy, forcible sexual abuse, unlawful sexual activity with a minor and dealing in materials harmful to a minor — stemming from alleged sexual relationships with three former Davis High students who were 16 or 17 years old at the time.
Second District Judge Thomas Kay ruled Monday that it was "appropriate and necessary" to split the 10 original charges into three trials, one relating to each victim.
While there are similarities in all three cases, Kay ruled that they were not connected.
A fourth trial has also been ordered relating to four additional charges alleging Altice had sex with one of the victims while she was out on bail.
Altice's attorneys argued that lumping the cases together could result in "extreme prejudice" by a jury. Prosecutors, however, contended that the three cases together painted a picture of Altice's motives.
A scheduling conference has been set for April 9.
The former English teacher, currently being held in the Davis County Jail, is accused of sending explicit messages to the then-teenagers and meeting them for sex, including in her car and at her home. She was arrested in October 2013.
Kay ruled March 16 that an alleged confession while she was questioned by Davis County sheriff's deputies about one of the victims will be permissible at trial.
Earlier this month, one of the three former students who allegedly had sexual relations with Altice filed a civil lawsuit claiming the school district should have done a better job screening prospective employers and providing better training.
The student, his parents and his attorneys are seeking at least $674,000 in damages.
"Moralists" are ever eager to declare other people's sins.
No offense taken.
I have daughters with blue eyes, Asian features (via the land bridge 10,000 years ago), wavy black hair and dark tannish red/brown skin.
Born-on-reservation descendants of Lozen* and some Irish queen or raider (depending if you are Irish or English), I can’t remember.
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lozen
Smart, mean when they need to be, good shots with either bow or rifle.
I fear for their future husbands.
Does this mean you are in favor of teachers having sexual relations with students in their charge?
I answered that in my post #58.
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