Judge refuses to trim bail in sex-abuse case

WEST JORDAN — A judge has refused to reduce the $500,000 bail for Frank Laine Hall, an award-winning elementary school teacher who is charged with 16 counts of first-degree sex abuse of a child.

Third District Judge Royal Hansen did agree Thursday to schedule another roll-call hearing for Hall so his attorneys could have more time to obtain "discovery," or information about the charges against their client.

Hall, 36, was a first-grade teacher at Rosamond Elementary School. He was arrested March 15 and charged with inappropriate touching of three of his students between July 2006 and March 2007. He remains in the Salt Lake County Jail.

Since his arrest, other students have come forward with claims of sexual abuse by Hall, and the number of alleged victims now numbers 11.

Hall received a Huntsman Award for Excellence in Education last year for making extra efforts to encourage students. The award came with a $10,000 check.