FARMINGTON, Utah -
A former Bountiful Jr. High teacher accused of sex with a 14-year-old boy will go on trial in March 2010, her attorney announced Thursday. During an appearance in 2nd District Court, a three-day trial was scheduled for Valynne Bowers, 40, who is charged with nine first-degree felony counts of rape and forcible sodomy. Her attorney, Rich Gallegos, told Fox 13 News outside of court that plea negotiations with the Davis County Attorney's Office had not been fruitful.
"We're still going to work towards it," he said.
But Bowers is rejecting a plea offer to only first-degree felonies. Gallegos said he would instead ask a jury to convict her of a third-degree felony of unlawful sex with a minor, a lesser offense. The jury would also have to decide if Bowers was in a "position of special trust," as the boy she is accused of having sex with was a former student in her math class and no sexual contact occurred in the school.
Bowers is one of two teachers at Bountiful Jr. High accused of having sex with the same student. Another teacher, Linda Nef, 46, confessed to police that she had been having a sexual relationship with the same boy beginning when he was 13. She told police about Bowers. Nef is serving a three years-to-life prison term.
Prosecutors have said Bowers admitted to the relationship to police, but Gallegos said he only recently learned that detectives' interview with her had been taped. Gallegos said he is seeking that tape to review it and if police crossed any lines during questioning, he would seek to have the interview suppressed from evidence.
FOX 13's Ben Winslow reports.
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"We're still going to work towards it," he said.
But Bowers is rejecting a plea offer to only first-degree felonies. Gallegos said he would instead ask a jury to convict her of a third-degree felony of unlawful sex with a minor, a lesser offense. The jury would also have to decide if Bowers was in a "position of special trust," as the boy she is accused of having sex with was a former student in her math class and no sexual contact occurred in the school.
Bowers is one of two teachers at Bountiful Jr. High accused of having sex with the same student. Another teacher, Linda Nef, 46, confessed to police that she had been having a sexual relationship with the same boy beginning when he was 13. She told police about Bowers. Nef is serving a three years-to-life prison term.
Prosecutors have said Bowers admitted to the relationship to police, but Gallegos said he only recently learned that detectives' interview with her had been taped. Gallegos said he is seeking that tape to review it and if police crossed any lines during questioning, he would seek to have the interview suppressed from evidence.
FOX 13's Ben Winslow reports.
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FOLLOW US ON TWITTER! @fox13now
