Yet another Utah teacher has joined the roster to face charges of sexual abuse of students, with 34-year-old Brianne Altice arrested Monday upon two felony counts of unlawful sex with a minor. The student was 15 when their relationship began, though he is 17 now, and it was his disclosure to the police of the relationship that lead to an investigation of her house. What police discovered there corroborated the boy’s story; also his detail of private tattoos on Altice’s body confirmed his claims of abuse.
They have had sex at least five times, not only in her house, but at least once in the nearby Kaysville park.
“She always wanted to be liked,” said Kylee Carroll, a fellow student at Davis Highschool, as reported by KUTV. “I just didn’t think that she would ever do something like this.”
The staff likewise is disturbed at the disclosure, and of course she is on paid administrative leave until the investigation determines the case. Faculty are concerned that the school’s name will be sullied.
“This high school is a great high school. It has a fantastic reputation across the state,” said Davis School District spokesperson Chris Williams. “What does this do for the reputation?”
Utah schools have had it bad lately, with 34-year-old Stephan Niedzwiecki standing trial Monday on counts of sodomy, among other charges, against a 15-year old student; with 22-year-old Courtney Jarrell facing charges this December for an inappropriate relationship with a 17-year-old; with 61-year-old Kenneth William Prince facing charges of abusing a Junior high student; and with 28-year-old Broch DeGraff sentenced to up to 20 years in prison for repeated sexual contact with two students.
It seems, therefore, as if Utah is having a bad run of teacher indiscretion. Nevertheless, commentators don’t think the teachers necessarily need any more instruction not to seduce students.
“This is common sense stuff,” said Williams. “I don’t think we necessarily have to hold any special training. This is common sense.”