TOOELE — Former 3rd grade teacher Christopher Burton pleaded guilty Tuesday to eight counts of molesting boys in his classroom as part of a plea bargain.
Burton, 26, originally was charged with eight counts of first-degree felony aggravated sexual abuse of a child. As part of the plea agreement, he entered guilty pleas to eight counts of second-degree felony sexual abuse of a child.
Defense attorney Tara Isaacson said as part of the plea, prosecutors have agreed to recommend to the judge that Burton serve five sentences consecutively and three concurrently. That means he faces a potential prison term of five to 30 years.
Third District Judge Mark Kouris read off each count and asked Burton to respond to each, which he did in a calm voice.
"Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty?" the judge asked.
"Yes," Burton replied.
Kouris ordered a presentence report and set Nov. 6 for sentencing.
Burton is being held in the Tooele County Jail.
Kouris also noted that although he will pay close heed to the presentence report and the prosecutors' recommendations, it is up to the judge to impose the sentence.
Burton was charged with fondling eight students in the classroom on various occasions between Aug. 21, 2006, and March 30, 2007. He told them to sit on his lap while the other children were distracted with other activities, put his hands in the boys' pants pockets and touched their genitals.
The courtroom was filled with parents whose children had testified at a preliminary hearing on June 22, but no children were there Tuesday. Parents had been asked Tuesday if they wanted to comment to reporters — with no names used to protect the children — but the adults chose to leave the courthouse.
They will have an opportunity to make victim impact statements to the judge at sentencing.
"It was very satisfying to hear him enter guilty pleas to all eight counts," Tooele County Attorney Douglas Hogan said later. "There is a certain satisfaction to the victims and families of victims to hear someone say, 'I did it.' Even with a trial, never do you hear them admit to what transpired."
Hogan also was pleased that the boys will not have to go through a trial, especially since school starts this week. A trial would force them to revisit what happened, potentially take them out of fourth grade for as long as a week, and bring "this back to the forefront."
Hogan credited the boys' conduct at the preliminary hearing for helping to get the plea bargain in place. Each child appeared nervous, but each testified in a clear voice and had a rendition of what took place that was consistent from child to child, although a couple of them described a few small details differently.
"I do believe a strong message was delivered at the preliminary hearing," Hogan said. "That message was: These kids were telling the truth. Their stories rang of truth."
Hogan also said it was clear "this wasn't some sort of conspiracy to get a teacher or get someone in trouble."
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