ST. GEORGE (AP)— Former Pine View High School teacher Daryl Talbot has pleaded guilty to two counts of rape and one count of forcible sexual abuse in a consensual sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl.
Talbot, 50, had been charged with four counts of rape and two counts of forcible sexual abuse.
He entered the pleas Thursday before 5th District Judge G. Rand Beacham, who set sentencing for May 18.
According to state law, sexual intercourse is considered without consent if the victim is younger than 18. Also, at the time of the offense, the accused occupied a position of special trust in relation to the victim.
The law defines special trust relationships as a person who can exercise undue influence over the victim, such as a youth leader, teacher, doctor, employer or religious leader.
In this case, the girl was a student of Talbot's at Pine View.
As part of the plea agreement, the prosecution agreed not to object to a bail reduction from $120,000 to $25,000.
However, the girl did not want him released on bail, and Beacham said he would "just defer discretion (to) the concerns of the victim and deny the request" for bail reduction.