A former math teacher from Utah who touched his young students' buttocks as he gave them extra tuition has been jailed for just 30 days.
Rory Bowen was sentenced to a month behind bars on Monday after previously pleading guilty to three charges of sexual battery, reports the Salt Lake Tribune.
The 37-year-old, from Oakley, confessed in June to touching his victims "under circumstances he knew or should've known would likely cause affront or alarm."
A 13-year-old student at South Summit Middle School in Kamas said he touched her clothed buttocks on multiple occasions between August 2013 and March 2014.
It happened in his classroom, after she'd asked him for extra help after class. Other girls also claimed he'd committed the same crime during that time frame.
Bowen was originally charged with four counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, which could have seen him jailed for life.
But the charges were reduced as part of a plea deal.
Bowen will also be on probation for 54 months and cannot work as a teacher during that period. Prosecutor Joy Natale had called for a 180-day jail sentence.
"Students look up to their teachers as trusted adults. And he took advantage of that trust," Natale said.
Bowen's attorney Kenneth Brown, however, claimed that the touching was "accidental," according to the Tribune.
He claimed Bowen would often put his hand on a student's back while explaining work.
"The touch was intentional. The problem we had [WAS] there wasn't any sexual intent. His hand slipped down to the buttocks — we're not denying that," said Brown.
Bowen tearfully apologized for his actions to the court.
"I'm sorry that my actions have reflected poorly on the teaching industry. I'm sorry that it's caused any suffering to anyone," he said.
A former math teacher from Utah who touched his young students' buttocks as he gave them extra tuition has been jailed for just 30 days.Rory Bowen was sentenced to a month behind bars on Monday after previously pleading guilty to three charges of sexual battery, reports the Salt Lake Tribune.The 37-year-old, from Oakley, confessed in June to touching his victims "under circumstances he knew or should've known would likely cause affront or alarm."A 13-year-old student at South Summit Middle School in Kamas said he touched her clothed buttocks on multiple occasions between August 2013 and March 2014.It happened in his classroom, after she'd asked him for extra help after class. Other girls also claimed he'd committed the same crime during that time frame.Bowen was originally charged with four counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, which could have seen him jailed for life.But the charges were reduced as part of a plea deal.Bowen will also be on probation for 54 months and cannot work as a teacher during that period. Prosecutor Joy Natale had called for a 180-day jail sentence."Students look up to their teachers as trusted adults. And he took advantage of that trust," Natale said.Bowen's attorney Kenneth Brown, however, claimed that the touching was "accidental," according to the Tribune.He claimed Bowen would often put his hand on a student's back while explaining work."The touch was intentional. The problem we had [WAS] there wasn't any sexual intent. His hand slipped down to the buttocks — we're not denying that," said Brown.Bowen tearfully apologized for his actions to the court."I'm sorry that my actions have reflected poorly on the teaching industry. I'm sorry that it's caused any suffering to anyone," he said.
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