Teacher released on bail in Riverton abuse case

An award-winning elementary school teacher from Riverton charged with 16 counts of sex abuse of a child is out of jail.

Frank Laine Hall was able to post his $500,000 bail Monday after several unsuccessful attempts in court to have his bail reduced.

Hall, 36, was a first-grade teacher at Rosamond Elementary School. He was arrested March 15 after investigators say he inappropriately touched some of his students during class.

After the arrest, police say victims dating back to July 2006 were discovered. The 16 charges involve 11 alleged victims.

At Hall's Riverton house Thursday, dogs could be heard barking from the basement when a Deseret Morning News reporter knocked on his door for a comment, but no one answered. Neighbors said they were told by his wife that Hall's parents helped bail him out and that he was staying with them somewhere in Utah and had no plans of returning to his Riverton neighborhood.

Some neighbors said they thought Hall's wife had recently sold their house and would be moving soon herself.

Hall was awarded the Huntsman Award for Excellence in Education in 2006 and received $10,000 as part of his prize.

His next scheduled court date is a hearing Tuesday.

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E-mail: preavy@desnews.com