A former Utah high school teacher has been sentenced to serve a minimum of two and up to 30 years in prison for three counts of forcible sex with 16- and 17-year-old boys, after she was caught having sex with one of those 17-year-boys while she was out on bail during her trial.
35-year-old Brianne Altice from Farmington, Utah was arrested in October 2013 after three students from Davis High School reported their relationships with the teacher.
Fox 13 Salt Lake City reports that originally, Altice faced rape charges, but the charges were pled down to forcible sex abuse, a second-degree felony. Altice pled guilty to all three counts in April.
One of the students previously testified that the charges against her are "ridiculous." He admitted to having sex with Altice once before her arrest, and three times while she was out on bail in December.
Her lawyer, Ed Brass, argued in court on Thursday that Altice was not any of the boys' teachers when these sexual relationships occurred, and that the boys aggressively pursued Altice by with her:
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The prosecution, Deputy Davis County Attorney Cristina Ortega, countered that Altice was in a position to ignore the boys:
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Judge Thomas Kay agreed.
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Judge Kay sentenced Altice to serve 1 to 15 years in prison for each count of sex abuse, two of which would be served consecutively.
He also questioned Altice's remorse and understanding of the case against her. When she spoke in court, Altice said, "I've learned lessons beyond what you can imagine," adding, "Though I am flawed, I am better than this."
[via Fox 13 Salt Lake City]
