Ogden teacher's link to student investigated

OGDEN — An Ogden teacher is on leave while police and school district officials investigate allegations that he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a former student.

Information about the 47-year-old man's alleged involvement with the woman when she was a student at Ogden High School was brought to the Ogden Police Department and Ogden City School District by a media outlet following up on a tip from a caller.

"I'm sure what brought this to the forefront is the recent incident in Davis County," said Ogden Police Lt. Scott Conley, referring to last week's investigation into allegations against Layton High School choir director Joseph Everton.

Everton, 62, was the target of a Layton Police Department probe after it was learned he'd married a former student. The woman, who is now 18, and Everton eloped to Las Vegas on Sept. 25 and married, according to her mother.

On Tuesday, Layton police announced that although the relationship between Everton and the woman was inappropriate, a crime had not been committed. Everton, however, is still on leave from his job while the Davis School District conducts its own inquiry.

The Ogden High case has been assigned to a juvenile crimes detective, Conley said. An interview was scheduled for Wednesday, but Conley did not say whether investigators were meeting with the former student or the teacher first.

"We are looking forward to talking with the (former student) along with the suspect involved, and we can hopefully speak with the informant who called the news agency," Conley said.

Police have been told that the teacher and the woman, who would have been 16 or 17 when the relationship allegedly began, are now living together, Conley said.

Ogden schools spokeswoman Donna Corby said the teacher being investigated has tenure, but she would not say how long he has taught for the district. She also declined to comment on his employment status, except to say that he has been removed from the classroom.

Neither the district nor the police department are releasing the teacher's name.

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