Tooele teacher faces charges

TOOELE — A popular elementary school teacher in Tooele County has been arrested for investigation of sexually abusing students in his classroom.

Christopher Burton, 25, was booked into the Tooele County Jail Thursday on no bail for investigation of one count of aggravated sex abuse of a child.

During a news conference Friday to announce the arrest, Tooele County Attorney Doug Hogan said his office would file official first-degree felony charges of aggravated sex abuse on Monday, but as of Friday afternoon the office had not determined how many counts it would file.

Burton has taught at East Elementary School, 135 S. 700 East, in Tooele for the past three years. He was a sixth-grade teacher for the first two years and started teaching third grade this year.

Prosecutors believe that between Jan. 2 and March 30, Burton touched "multiple" third-grade students in his classroom, Hogan said. He is accused of rubbing at least one student's genitalia, putting his hand down the pocket of the student and having the student sit on his lap, according to the Tooele County Attorney's Office.

The allegations came to light on March 31, when a student told his parents about another student being inappropriately touched in class the day before, Hogan said. The parents notified police, who informed the school district. Burton was immediately suspended from his duties and did not return to the classroom. Upon further investigation, detectives identified other possible victims, and on April 20, the Tooele School District fired Burton.

Despite the allegations, outside East Elementary on Friday, many parents and even students voiced their support for Burton, saying they didn't believe the accusations.

"He's an awesome teacher," said 12-year-old Megan Miller, who knew Burton last year when she was in sixth grade.

"I don't believe it, really. I don't believe he would do something like that. He was a very fun teacher. He didn't do anything to make students uncomfortable."

"Mr. Burton is a very good man ... a very good teacher," said Jerry Boyd, who volunteers occasionally in Burton's class where his niece is a student. "He treats the kids with respect. I've never seen him do anything inappropriate. I don't believe the allegations."

Tooele School District Superintendent Michael Johnsen said parents, students and even fellow faculty members were shocked.

"He's been a good teacher," Johnsen said.