School administrators considered Luke Elbert Dalton a model teacher who often went beyond the norm to help his students.
But now the Honeyville Elementary teacher faces up to 15 years in prison after admitting he molested a boy younger than 14 intermittently for years.Dalton, 56, faces sentencing June 17 after pleading guilty in 1st District Court to one count of sexual abuse of a child, a second-degree felony.
In exchange for the plea, prosecutors agreed not to file numerous other abuse charges involving the same victim, who was not a student of Dalton's.
Both Box Elder County Attorney Jon Bunderson and acting Box Elder Superintendent Richard Kim-ber say they have no evidence the veteran teacher had any inappropriate contact with students.
Dalton, a Tremonton resident who goes by the name "Lee," taught at Snowville, Fielding and Honeyville elementary schools.
His attorney, Jack Molgard, refused to comment on the charges. Dalton was booked into the Box Elder County jail and released on his own recognizance. He was ordered to have no contact with children younger than 18.
Bunderson said the abuse came to light during a counseling session with the boy, who is now 14.
Kimber said Dalton was suspended without pay as soon as the district heard of the allegations.
Dalton, who apparently knew the allegations were about to be made public, walked out of the classroom March 31 and told students and the principal he would not be back, Kimber said.
Kimber began termination proceedings Tuesday. Dalton's firing will be effective from the date the allegations were reported, he said.
After his court appearance, Kim-ber gave Dalton a letter from the State Office of Education asking the teacher to voluntarily surrender his teaching certificate. If he does not, the state will began proceedings to revoke his certification.