PROVO — A former Boy Scout leader and Alpine District high school teacher has been charged with sexually abusing a 17-year-old under his care.
Vincent Lawrence, 33, Eagle Mountain, appeared in 4th District Court Tuesday to face three counts of forcible sexual abuse of a child, second-degree felonies.
Investigators with the Utah County Sheriff's Office allege Lawrence molested the teenager while working as a Boy Scout camp director near the Scofield reservoir.
Lawrence is a teacher at Orem's Timpanogos High School, where he taught art and photography. Officials at Alpine School District have notified Lawrence by certified mail that they intend to suspend him without pay.
He was arrested June 15 and booked into the Utah County Jail after an investigation.
In court Monday, Judge Gary Stott set bail for Lawrence at $10,000 and ordered him not to have any contact with the victim or the victim's family.
Lawrence's attorney, Dean Zabriskie, said he is confident his client will be treated fairly in the courtroom.
"It's got some press because of his position of trust but we're confident that he will be treated fairly," Zabriskie said outside of court.
"He's been in jail and he misses his family, but he's very upbeat."
Zabriskie said Lawrence's wife continues to be supportive. Utah County prosecutor Mariane O'Bryant said she did not object to the bail amount, given the age of the victim and that Lawrence is a man with no criminal history.
But O'Bryant wanted to stress the gravity of the charges against a person who was a teacher and youth leader.
"They have a special trust given to them by the public and by parents, anytime that trust is violated it's serious," she said.
Lawrence is scheduled to appear in court again July 13 to schedule a preliminary hearing.
E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com