MANTI — A former Wasatch Academy teacher who is already facing trial for allegedly having sex with two female students has been bound over for another trial on a charge of unlawful sexual activity with a third student.
Judge Kay McIff ordered Ronald C. Lindberg of Richfield, who taught science at the private boarding school in Mt. Pleasant during the 2003-04 school year, to face a second trial following a preliminary hearing Wednesday in 6th District Court.
A preliminary hearing in the first case was held in June. In both preliminary hearings, the alleged victims described similar scenarios.
In the first hearing, a former student, who was 16 at the time, testified that she and a friend went to Lindberg's house near the Wasatch campus. It is not uncommon for Wasatch students to visit with faculty in their homes.
The girl testified that during the visit, Lindberg served vodka to her and her friend and then had sexual intercourse with both of them, one after the other.
At Wednesday's hearing, a different girl who admitted in court that she was using drugs at the time, said Lindberg gave her three muscle relaxants. Then, she testified, he had intercourse with both girls, first with her friend and then with her.
McIff set trial in the first case for March 21. In that case, Lindberg is facing one count of rape, a first-degree felony, and two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, a third degree felony. He is also facing misdemeanor counts of unlawful sale and supply of alcohol to minors and contributing to the delinquency of minors.
The judge scheduled a trial on the second case for April 24. That trial will be on a single third-degree felony count of unlawful sexual activity with a minor.
Brody Kiesel, deputy county attorney in Sanpete County, told McKiff he planned to file a motion requesting that the two trials be combined. McKiff indicated he would consider such a motion but was inclined to keep the trials separate.
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