Former school worker pleads guilty in sex case

Jonathan Carver, 29, a former employee at a school for troubled girls pleaded guilty in court Thursday to five counts of forcible sexual abuse, all second-degree felonies, for sexual conduct with a 17-year-old former student.

Carver and his wife had worked as house parents for the Alpine Academy in Tooele County. Prosecutors believe Carver began engaging in sexual activity with the girl when his wife was gone and that Carver had at least 20 sexual encounters with the teen starting in October 2008.

The situation came to light when the girl was discharged from the facility and went home. A parent grew suspicious and called the school after Carver continued to have contact with the girl. Both Carver and his wife were fired.

Carver originally had been charged with four counts of rape, two counts of forcible sodomy and one count of witness tampering, but those charges were amended or dismissed as the case progressed and a plea bargain was struck.

He is set to be sentenced Oct. 6 by 3rd District Judge Stephen Henriod.

— Linda Thomson