Judge releases ex-teacher from jail

FILLMORE — A judge has released a former high-school teacher from jail ahead of his sentencing hearing for charges related to his sexual abuse of a student.

Fourth District Court Donald Eyre granted a defense request Wednesday to allow Keith Lorraine Gillins to be released from jail so he can help his attorney prepare for an Sept. 30 sentencing hearing, according to court records.

Gillins, who taught English and coached basketball at Millard High School and served for 12 years as the mayor of Fillmore, pleaded guilty in August to two counts of attempted rape, a first-degree felony, one count of attempted forcible sodomy, a first-degree felony, and two counts of forcible sexual abuse, both second-degree felonies.

The 61-year-old's pleas resolved cases in Millard and Juab counties that initially involved a total of 18 felony charges. Both cases involved sexual activity with a 17-year-old girl who was one of Gillins' high-school students at the time.

Court records from Wednesday's hearing show that Eyre agreed to allow Gillins to be released from the Millard County Jail into the custody of his attorney for eight hours on Thursday and Friday. The judge instructed the jail to notify the victim upon Gillins' release from and his return to the facility.

Eyre also added that if authorities learned that the terms of his order had been violated in any way, Gillins should be taken back into custody immediately.

— Geoff Liesik