Charges filed against teacher's aide

WEST JORDAN — A former teacher's aide accused of engaging in sexual relations with two middle school students has been charged with five felonies.

Andrea Billingsley, 31, was charged in West Jordan's 3rd District Court with two counts of forcible sodomy and three counts of forcible sexual abuse.

Last school year, Billingsley was a supervising teacher's aide for students sent to in-school suspension at West Jordan Middle School, 7550 S. Redwood. Sometime between May and July, a 16-year-old student was in ISS when Billingsley sat next to him and put her hands down his pants, the charges state.

On another occasion, the 16-year-old and his 15-year-old friend were picked up by Billingsley in her car and she took them to a park in West Jordan where she performed oral sex on both boys, according to the charges.

Police believe the sexual encounters started about May and continued after the school year was over and into July. The incident at the park occurred around July 20, according to Salt Lake County Jail documents.

It was during the current school year that reports of inappropriate behavior first surfaced after the two boys were overheard talking to other students about what happened.

"We had heard that some kids were bragging about it, and someone notified the West Jordan Middle principal," said Jordan District spokeswoman Melinda Colton. "I think this situation portrays the importance of everyone being involved to protect our children."

Billingsley worked about 17 hours a week and was on staff from August 2008 to May 2009. She passed a background check before being hired, Colton said. She was not asked to return this school year due to lack of funds for the position.

Originally, Billingsley was also arrested for investigation of distributing pornographic materials to minors but was not charged with that crime Wednesday.

Contributing: Lana Groves

e-mail: preavy@desnews.com