Deseret News | Teacher accused of sex crime

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Teacher accused of sex crime

Anonymous | 3:45 p.m. June 9, 2009

whats with Utah? whats in the water there?

James | 3:54 p.m. June 9, 2009

Maybe they should just start listing the teachers that have not had sex with any of their students. The list might be shorter.

@Anonymous | 4:00 p.m. June 9, 2009

I think it happens in California too. They are more liberal so its probable not so strictly reported.

Comments continue below

Innocence | 4:03 p.m. June 9, 2009

Given the recent incident at West High, don't you think we should presume the defendant innocent until proven guilty?

Cougar Blue | 4:14 p.m. June 9, 2009

61 and 17? They're both sick!

And Another | 4:21 p.m. June 9, 2009

And these are the cases that are reported. There are at least twice as many that are never reported. All of my Male teachers would flirt with the girls at my high school. It just happens. Its sad but it happens.

Anonymous | 4:25 p.m. June 9, 2009

I don't understand why a 17 year old would have sex with a 61 year old, yuck!!

CURIOUS | 4:31 p.m. June 9, 2009

I LOVE READING STORIES LIKE THIS THAT USES WORDS LIKE "ALLEGED" AND "RECEIVED INFORMATION" I WONDER WHAT ALL IT REALLY TAKES TO BE CONVICTED.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME? | 4:34 p.m. June 9, 2009

Anonymous:

So are you saying child molestation is acceptable to Californian liberals?

Or are you saying liberal parents living in California wouldn't report the abuse of their children because of their political beliefs?

Or you saying you are ignorant and are trying to spread your ignorance over the internet?

Anonymous | 4:34 p.m. June 9, 2009

Arrested, "No Charges Filed", so lets smear his name all over the papers and ruin this guys life for Accusations at this point. Way to report! Losers!

FromCaliforniaINCalifornia | 4:44 p.m. June 9, 2009

No... It doesn't happen here as much as I've read about it ocurring in Utah. SORRY.
In the year I spent living in Utah I read more about teachers/school staff having sex with minors than I have my whole life adult life in California (from age 15 till now, I'm 27).

There's undoubtedly sexual tension, maybe supression, in your state. But who am I to say. I just hate that everyone on here is always SO quick to mention California as the black sheep... you love to hate us. I asure you also, that in my whole life in California no one ever so much as mentioned Utah, for anything. I didn't know where it was until I moved there. And to be honest, all I can brag about now- back in Cali- is your amazing landscape and rich native culture... POWWOWS! But the later is an aspect that most Utahns take totally for granted... Unless its some generic symbol for a footbal team.

Anonymous | 4:51 p.m. June 9, 2009

She is disgusting!! Any old guy would look at a young girl, why would it be flattering.? He could be her grandpa! Makes me sick.

jp | 4:56 p.m. June 9, 2009

PEOPLE!! We've just had two cases in the SAME WEEK of adults being accused of having sex with minors, both dismissed. "Officers received information"? That's all we need to convict these days? It's shameful that our society, and the Deseret News, reports these things so prematurely.

As a male teacher, I'm in fear of my life that some student might wrongfully accuse me of something. As a result, I'm a very impersonal teacher...no kids in my room outside of class, no conversations about anything but school work, and certainly no extracurricular activities for me...none of this is worth my livelihood. Still, all it would take is one vindictive student to wrongfully accuse me, and my life would be over. Utterly ridiculous.

Anonymous | 5:09 p.m. June 9, 2009

Does anybody have a solution to the problem in our schools?.

Anonymous | 5:23 p.m. June 9, 2009

Where in the article does it mention the student was a girl? Nor does it give details about how this surfaced? Is this just student wanting to get "revenge" for a bad grade? Let's wait until the details come out to make judgement.

California too | 5:30 p.m. June 9, 2009

Oh yes it does happen very, very often in California. Just because you haven't heard of many cases doesn't mean it doesn't happen often. I've lived here in CA for years, in NC for years and in VA for years. I'm 66 years old. It kills me how everytime something negative happens in Utah, the critics come out and say how much worse that particular thing is in Utah. Check you facts and you will be surprised.

Anonymous | 5:36 p.m. June 9, 2009

What's wrong with the schools is that no one seems to want to follow the rules that have been put in place for the protection of the students as well as the teachers. When these rules are bent and broken and lines are crossed, even bigger rules get broken and bigger lines are crossed. Where is the administration in all of this? Could it be that they are the ones allowing the lines to be crossed?

PRAGMATIST | 5:43 p.m. June 9, 2009

JP mentions the delima of being a male teacher in a world gone crazy. His prescription for avoiding any suspicion is one that all male teachers should take to heart. Remember you don't have to be convicted, you just have to be accused.

Anonymous | 5:44 p.m. June 9, 2009

thats SO gross! and wrong...the girl just wanted better grades! he taught me and i never believed this would happen, i also went to school with her, its unbelievable! honestly.

To JP | 5:47 p.m. June 9, 2009

I feel for you. We need better teachers (which I hope you are) to produce better students. Bad apples are in both groups. This is just a suggestion to someone looking in from the outside:

1) Be open to student visits but mandate that it be with multiple students, open doors, with notification to your peers/supersivor

2) If possible, AND TELL THE STUDENT, that you want to record the conversation.

3) Make notes of all conversations overhead secondhand or you hear firsthand; distribute such notes with times, names and content to supervisor (in case vindictive student wrongfully implicates you).

Teaching is a business and these are simply business practices used by those businesses that want to keep both the employee and employer safe.

Takes Two | 6:30 p.m. June 9, 2009

You know at some point students should be held accountable also. Im not saying this is right but why is the blame always on the teacher.

Anonymous | 6:46 p.m. June 9, 2009

Whats happening to our school system? just read something about Juab School Board Members and Superintendent taking bribs and gifts. Who are we letting educate our kids? Is the whole system corrupt?

RE: Takes Two | 6:50 p.m. June 9, 2009

They're kids. They dont know any better. What the hell is the matter with you?

Re: Takes Two | 7:06 p.m. June 9, 2009

At what point we will make our kids know better. You can not tell me a 17-18 yr doesnt know better. Give me a break. If they want to be treated like adults as most kids do they better act like an adult than. Im not saying what is going on is right but again students should be held accountable

Anonymous | 7:09 p.m. June 9, 2009

Pretty sure this happens in every state, not just Utah. So please don't turn this into a bashing of my wonderful state. I went to Millard High, I had Mr. Gillins as a teacher and I always thought he was great. I never thought that this would happen. It's shocked me so much. This world has become so scary to live in when all of our morals have just been flushed down the drain.

lack | 7:23 p.m. June 9, 2009

I to live in southern utah. there was a teacher arrested here for two counts of rape for having sex with a then 16 year old and he still has not evan as much as went to court for it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Be Sure Before You Rant | 7:49 p.m. June 9, 2009

This is an accusation at this point. I'm not going to judge either way right now, but who ever is guilty in this case the offender should be punished severely whether it is the man or the girl. I just hope we are not seeing a trend here by kids. I do believe that we have gone way, way too far in our lack of disipline in our children. I have had an experience in our family, not immediate or my kids, where a girl reported her mother and dad to the law enforcement and child protective services agency that she had been physically hurt and it was nothing more than a lie. She knew she had these agency's on her side with the laws as they are and took advantage of them. So a word to the wise wait until the facts are out or in whatever.

Sad | 12:21 p.m. June 10, 2009

My heart goes out to their families. I cannot even fathom the pain and anguish they are feeling.

WOW | 12:59 p.m. June 10, 2009

I graduated from Millard high in 06 and Gillins was my favorite teacher i have a hard time believing this.

and that photo is totally unflattering.

not just and isolated incident | 2:08 p.m. June 11, 2009

I too know the Gillin's family. I agree that it is heartbreaking to everyone involved. His wife Connie has had 42 years to know the true character of this man. She could very well have reached her saturation point with his behavior. He has been misbehaving for a very long time. Over 30 years isn't that right Class of 79. Karma is a crazy thing and it always catches up with everyone. If this girl had walked into his office in Victoria Secrets latest teddy she is still the victim in this case. 61 years of wisdom?, family, marriage, temple covenants,in a position of authority? etc.... He really needs help and lots of it. We will either humble ourselves or we will be compelled to be humbled.

Anonymous | 12:05 p.m. Aug. 24, 2009

Basically the entire situation is unfathomable... I mean, I don't like the fact that everyone turns against gillens... from what i understand.. the girl had just as much part of it!!!

Anonymous | 12:47 p.m. Aug. 24, 2009

Nowhere in the article did it mention the student in question was female... Just saying

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