Ex-teacher pleads not guilty to sex charges; plea deal in works

FARMINGTON — Linda Nef, the former Bountiful Junior High School teacher accused of having sex with an underage boy, pleaded not guilty to two felony charges Tuesday, and her attorney says a plea deal is under negotiation.

Nef entered the not-guilty pleas simply as a procedural matter while the work on whether a plea bargain can be reached continues, her attorney, Sean Druyon, said later.

Nef, 46, is charged with rape of a child and forcible sodomy, both first-degree felonies. Prosecutors say the Utah history teacher was involved in sexual activity with the boy when he was 13 years old, which was after he was one of her students. He is now 14.

Druyon spoke at length after the hearing to emphasize how sorry Nef is, how worried she is about the boy, and how the not-guilty plea was not an indication that she was avoiding responsibility for her actions.

She had wanted to come forward and confess earlier but was deterred by suicide threats from the boy, Druyon said.

"There was evidence he had hurt himself before," he said.

Druyon said it is his understanding that the youth now is getting counseling. He said Nef had not been actively pursuing the boy and that the youth "had a lot of emotional needs."

Nef is facing two possible prison terms of 25 years to life. However, Druyon said the state Legislature recognized that there are unusual cases where there can be exceptions to prison terms, including probation, if various factors are present in the case. Druyon said he needs more time to review information from prosecutors and interviews that have been conducted with school district members.

A psychosexual exam conducted on Nef produced a "very favorable" report that suggests she is not a pedophile and has a low risk of re-offending, he said.

Druyon said information he has received indicates the boy does not want Nef punished, and if she had not confessed, the situation would never have come to light, but Nef wanted to "come clean."

"She knew what she did wasn't right," Druyon said.

Nef has resigned from the Davis School District. Her next court appearance is June 9.

Another Bountiful Junior High School teacher, Valynne Bowers, 39, also is facing charges of rape and forcible sodomy, both first-degree felonies, for allegedly engaging in sexual contact with the boy when he was 14 years old. Bowers, who teaches math, is on administrative leave. Her next court hearing is June 1.

E-MAIL: lindat@desnews.com