WEST JORDAN — A former Eastmont Middle School lunch manager accused of sexually abusing a teenage boy was released from jail Wednesday while prosecutors fight the woman's request to have a trial before a judge instead of a jury.
An Aug. 4 jury trial was scheduled for Jamie Lynn Greenwood, 41, but she instead asked to have her case heard by a judge — a request prosecutors are fighting. The Utah Supreme Court has issued a temporary stay in the proceedings until it makes a decision in the case.
Greenwood is charged with two counts of rape and two counts of forcible sodomy, first-degree felonies, as well as forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony, for allegedly carrying on a sexual relationship with a now-16-year-old boy who was a friend of her teenage son.
Police say the relationship lasted almost a year and that Greenwood's position at the middle school "did not aid in the relationship."
On Wednesday, her attorney depicted her as a pillar in the community up until the time the relationship began. Mark Arrington cited his client's lack of criminal history, her volunteer work for an area PTA and Boy Scout group and the "strong" support of her husband of 20 years as reasons to release the woman despite the $250,000 bail that had been set.
"She doesn't have a passport," Arrington said. "She's not a flight risk. She was born and raised in Utah. She has nowhere to go."
He went on to say that none of the teenage witnesses in the case considered her a threat. But prosecutor Marc Mathis said a report described Greenwood as having "sexual urges specifically towards minors" and said the victim and his family have asked that she remain in custody.
Third District Judge Robert Adkins authorized the woman's release, under a number of conditions, citing the length of time it could take before a trial date is set.
He ordered that Greenwood have no contact with anyone under the age of 18, with the exception of her own children. She is to have no contact with the alleged victim in the case and is to undergo a psychosexual evaluation and participate in any treatment the evaluation indicates is necessary. He said he will ask Pre-trial Services to determine whether the woman can stay with her own family or with her widowed mother in Clearfield, who her attorney said could monitor Greenwood around the clock.
A review hearing will be held Oct. 5.
e-mail: emorgan@desnews.com