A former student has filed a $20 million sexual-abuse lawsuit against his junior high school English teacher and Granite School District.
Randy Burkholz, 25, says he was sexually stalked, abused and harassed by former teacher Jack A. Joyce, 66, while he was a student at Churchill Junior High School. Burkholz said the abuse continued after he left the school to attend Skyline High School.The suit also alleges Granite officials "knew or had reason to know respecting the misconduct of Joyce" but kept silent.
In June 1989, Joyce - who taught English and typing - was charged in 3rd Circuit Court with two sexual crimes at Churchill Junior High School, separate from Burk-holz's claims.
A class A misdemeanor charge of lewdness involving a child was filed in May 1989. The male student, who was under the age of 14, was a teacher's assistant and had his desk close to Joyce's, according to charging documents.
At the same time, Joyce was charged with a class B misdemeanor lewdness charge after a school janitor caught the teacher masturbating, according to charging documents.
Joyce pleaded guilty in August 1989 to the second charge, and the first count was dismissed. He was fined $300, sent to jail for four days and ordered - along with his wife - to see a therapist for 12 months. Judge LeRoy Griffiths also barred Joyce from being in the company of minors in a teaching situation. Joyce then resigned from his teaching job.
In July 1992, he was cited with disorderly conduct for an unspecified sexual act that occurred in a men's restroom in Liberty Park, according to a Salt Lake City citation. Joyce pleaded guilty, was fined $150 and ordered to be tested for AIDS.
Granite School District personnel director Dale Baker said Joyce worked at four junior high schools from 1962 to 1989: Brockbank, Bonneville, Hunter and Churchill. He said there was nothing in Joyce's file other than his resignation.
Roger Mouritsen, director of certification for the State Office of Education, said Joyce's teaching certificate lapsed in 1993 after he failed to meet the five-year renewal date. He said Granite did not notify his office that Joyce was involved in unprofessional conduct.
Joyce, who moved last year to Mesa, Ariz., could not be reached for comment.