Ex-teacher sentenced

FARMINGTON — Sandra Wariner, the former Bountiful Junior High School teacher who threatened to bring a shotgun to school in May, has been given a suspended jail sentence and ordered to get anger management counseling.

Second District Judge Thomas Kay on Tuesday sentenced Wariner to six months in jail after Wariner pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of harassment, a class B misdemeanor. She originally was charged with making a terroristic threat, a second-degree felony that carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years in prison.

However, the judge suspended the misdemeanor jail time, directed Wariner to perform 50 hours of community service and to enroll in therapy.

A psychiatric evaluation of Wariner, 57, indicated she does not need psychiatric treatment or medication. However, Kay noted that a report indicated Wariner has problems controlling verbal outbursts when angry, and she also experiences suicidal thoughts.

"I think you have an anger problem," Kay told Wariner. "I don't believe this was just a one-time matter."

Quoting from a court document, Kay noted that Wariner had said at the school, "I have a loaded shotgun if I don't get to teach algebra next year."

Prosecutor Rick Westmoreland said Wariner's temper was evident at a previous court hearing when she swore at him when leaving the courtroom. "In the society we have, you don't go around making threats or calling names," he said. "It's not to suggest she's a bad person."

Westmoreland agreed that therapy that provides coping skills would be appropriate.

Nathan Pace, Wariner's defense attorney, said any remarks she made previously in the courtroom were prompted by surprise at hearing some negative remarks the school principal had voiced about her, but these were not directed at anyone in court. Pace said the psychiatric evaluation showed Wariner has poor self-regulation when it comes to verbalizing her frustration, but she does not pose a risk of physical harm. Her statements at the school in May were "flippant or sarcastic expressions," he said, that were not the result of psychologically aggressive behavior.

Pace added that Wariner voluntarily gave up her job as teacher and as chairwoman of the school's math program and also surrendered her teaching certificate, despite the fact that she loves teaching.

"She wants to reiterate her love for students," Pace said. "She has paid dearly."

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