WEST JORDAN — Melinda Lee Deluca, a former teacher at Copper Hills High School, was sentenced Wednesday to 90 days in jail after she admitted she had sexual relations with one of her 16-year-old students.
Deluca, 30, previously pleaded guilty to one count of third-degree felony attempted forcible sexual abuse as part of a plea bargain. As a result, one charge of second-degree forcible sexual abuse was dismissed and another, identical count was reduced to the third-degree felony to which she pleaded guilty.
Her attorney, Earl Xaiz, said she had led an otherwise upstanding life, and her family and friends are baffled why she did this. Xaiz said he didn't offer it as an excuse, but did note that Deluca needed to begin taking some anti-seizure medication a few years ago that has potent side effects, including impairing one's thinking. He said she was taking prescription doses that were too large during a particular interval in her life, and began drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana — which she had never done before.
An unusual meeting between Deluca and the family of the victim arranged by attorneys at the victim's mother's request produced on Deluca's part a "demonstration of her remorse and shame for what she did," Xaiz said.
Deluca tearfully told 3rd District Judge Stephen Roth she was "on a devastating path of destruction for a while" but has changed and feels deeply sorry for the harm she has done to the victim, his family and her own loved ones.
The mother of the victim said her son has been taunted by other students and adults, his once-sunny disposition is gone, childhood friends shun him as a "bad kid" and he has changed in negative ways.
"I've lost that child. I don't have him anymore," she said, weeping. "He told me, 'Mom, you'll never have him back again. I'm a changed person."'
The boy no longer plays sports, which he once loved, and is doing home study to get a diploma.
Roth permitted Deluca to report to the jail today at noon so she would have an evening to explain to her own two children, ages 3 and 5, that she will be gone. The judge also put her on probation for 36 months, ordered sex offender counseling, called for mental health and substance abuse evaluations, as well as compliance with any recommended treatment, and prohibited any contact with children other than her own.
E-mail: lindat@desnews.com