Deseret News | Ex-seminary principal pleads not guilty to sex charges

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Ex-seminary principal pleads not guilty to sex charges

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Be a man | 10:54 a.m. Nov. 10, 2009

After all the evil and harm that Pratt has caused, he should at least be man enough to plead guilty and admit to what he has done.

AZ | 10:56 a.m. Nov. 10, 2009

If he is guilty "Be a Man" and take the fall. If the girl is making this whole thing up....She is one messed up little girl and her parents need to get her help. I don't know.. this one has alot of questions on both side???? I hope the true comes out in the end. It may or It may not? This is just a wait and see....

Dave | 10:59 a.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Oh, Brother Pratt. What were you thinking?

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 11:06 a.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Before all the sick people who want minors to be legal chime in, She was 16, I don't care of she was 17 years, 364 days, 23 hours, 59 minutes. A minor is a minor, the law is the law. He chose to mess up his family's life.

Waiting for defense | 11:08 a.m. Nov. 10, 2009

We've heard her side of the story. I'm anxious to know his side and hear the defense. He obviously put himself in some compromising positions - which we can all learn from, but not sure about all of the sexual encounters.

The most confusing part of her story is she said he checked her out of school and they went up the canyon for another "encounter." Since when does the school allow someone other than a legal guardian check someone out of school?

Could this be a case of another girl crying wolf?

Anonymous | 11:09 a.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Still no wrongful termination lawsuit against the LDS CHurch. COme on man, you don;t have to wait for the case to be resolved to sue, unless of course they fired you for the right reasons.

Here we go again..... | 11:14 a.m. Nov. 10, 2009

...Really? Not guilty? Doubt it.

I'll be shocked if her testimony was fake.

DAISY | 11:17 a.m. Nov. 10, 2009

THIS MAKES YOU NOT WANT TO TRUST ANY MAN IN AUTHORITY IN ANY RELIGION.

So be it | 11:20 a.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Now let the games begin. Does the girl really want to testify in open court? Can't both sides just make this go away rather then dragging themselves and us through it?

A believer?? | 11:20 a.m. Nov. 10, 2009

If Pratt actually believes the doctrine he has been teaching to LDS students for years then life in prison will be the least of his worries. If he actually gets acquitted from these charges then he better pray that he will live on earth forever because his eternal reward will not be fun.
Eternal Punishment is God's punishment.

Perhaps | 11:39 a.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Perhaps this is just strategy on Mike Pratt's part to be able to be with his family a little bit more. Once he goes in prison he ain't coming out for a very long time. So it is a stall tactic to have more time with his family.

slcfirefighter | 11:44 a.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Is he pleading not guilty because he didn't do it or because he thinks he did nothing wrong according to his gods law?

Anonymous | 11:45 a.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Utah is a right to work state, an employer can fire you for ANY reason. The only thing he could go after from them is unemployment if he were fired without cause.

Crow Dog | 11:48 a.m. Nov. 10, 2009

At this phase of the judicial process it is typical for the accused to plead not guilty. Defense attorneys frequently feel this will position them better for a plea bargain, allowing them to find out better what evidence really is out there. Complete truth has not been disclosed yet. I think rather lengthy and costly penalties are likely to be the outcome.

Of course, not guilty | 11:51 a.m. Nov. 10, 2009

The reason he entered a not guilty plea is so that he can go to trial. It's the american way to not confess, even though he knows he's guilty so he can try to get a shorter prison term. Confessing would be the worst thing for him in terms of the "justice" system. It's sick, but that's the way it works.

truth vs error | 11:53 a.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Who is lying. Who is telling the truth. My guess is the "real" truth lies somewhere in between. I am suspicious of the girl and her testimony. Alot of it seems made up. I don't know - something just doesn't feel right. Pratt is guilty - the question is how guilty. The bottom line here is this should have never happened in the first place. If the girl was coming on to Pratt then he should have immediately stopped it ... but he didn't.

Be a man | 11:59 a.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Too many independant witnesses saw them together, away from school. Too many saved text messages on her phone. I really doubt this girl is making this up.

better have proof | 11:59 a.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Pratt says he is not guilty. That means he had NO sexual relations with the girl. Sexual relations defined here as those considered as rape. The girl could be lying trying to make herself appear as the victim and sensationalizing the whole thing to take her hurt out on Pratt. If Pratt is truly not guilty then why did the church dismiss him and why for heaven sake didn't he say he was innocent right from the start? This is going to be a very interesting trial.

Lisa | 12:03 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Prosecuters dont press charges until they have some evidence to back up the claims. Cell phone records, attendence records...Teachers have a position of trust and MUST maintain professional distance. You cant have kids skipping in your office or transporting them away from school in your car no matter what the "event" is. If its sex thats the "event" then well you just broke the law. Adults have to be the adults in any situation. You dont just fall on top of someone cause she "tempted" me. You maintain your distance and report the student for truancy. Sorry folks I have a hard time working up sympathy for this teacher. All I can say is he is lucky it wasnt my 16 year old seminary student. If hes innocent then boy did he skirt real close to the edge of inappropriate behavior.

Deth | 12:04 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

I'll wait to see what happens but I am trusting this girl less and less as I read her testimony.

Or | 12:13 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

This is a standard strategy prior to a plea bargain.

@ DAISY | 12:14 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Why is it only men you shouldn't trust. From what I can remember over the last year, there have been more cases like this involving women teachers. Three have been convicted just recently.

Why point the finger at only men?

Cody | 12:23 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

I don't know about this one. Whether or not all the "encounters" actually happened or not Brother Pratt obviously put himself in a bad spot and was playing with fire.

I too will be interested in hearing his defense. If all the evidence the prosecution has is really there (text messages, witnesses, etc...) then he is just bringing more hurt on himself and his poor family.

I hope his wife, his children, the girl, and her family are all hanging in there. How awful of a situation for everyone and hopefully the truth comes out. Wow!

Re: truth vs error | 12:27 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

I completely agree

Anonymous | 12:29 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Deth... it doesn't sound like you're waiting to see what happens at all...

WhereIsWisdom | 12:30 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

How tragic when someone in a position of such authority and trust would do what he has allegedly done. How can anyone involved in character building turn enemy to mankind? Watch. There will be other enemies of mankind who choose to exploit this tragedy to wage war on the LDS Church. Next, LDS readers who choose to be offended by these verbal assaults will choose to battle their perceived enemy rather than turn the other cheek as they have been counseled to do by their leaders. Thus mankind perpetuates a war against itself.

How much wiser to remember that man has been endowed by his Creator with certain unalienable rights, one of which is individual freedom of choice? How much wiser to consider the power of each human being to be a builder or a destroyer of mankind through his choices? How much wiser to consider our ways and ask ourselves in which camp we want to be found?

Mind boggling | 12:31 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

I see what you mean Daisy but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. I would bet there are very few times a woman is in a situation with an authority figure man that she couldn't get out of if she heeded her conscience immediately and told someone. Yes what Bro.Pratt allegedly did is wrong- no question. He should be punished accordingly. She was a minor and all that yada yada. But this girl wasn't helpless. She could have run for her life when she realized how far they were getting into it. She was not deaf nor blind. She knew he was married. She knew what she was involved with was wrong. She has never mentioned that he threatened to kill her or her family. She was along for the ride. It's not her fault but she could have stopped it.

It's always good to be wary of those situations when you just feel something isn't right. But it's pathologic to fear all men of authority in any religion.

Ralph | 12:43 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

The criminality of the incident may be in question, but Pratt's judgment is not. The church action is confidential and is not directly linked to legal charges. Religious organizations are allowed a different metric.

INNOCENT | 12:47 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

It's not everyday that a seminary principal gets charged with 15 FELONIES.

If his attorney successfully defends the principal, his attorney will have many people wanting him to represent them.

To Or @ 12:13 | 12:50 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

I think this is standard procedure in lots of cases. Doesn't mean he's completely innocent, just working out a deal of some sort.

Tommy | 12:50 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Brothers and Sisters,
Let us not be so quick to judge either party. We should keep a spirit of love and forgivenes no matter the case because neither you nor I paid the ultimate price for any of the sins committed. Neither you nor I own that dept.

WHAT? | 1:02 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

In this case the person in question of the crime is a MAN. When the article is about a woman then you can point your finger at a woman.

Trial | 1:06 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

His trial has already been held by the press. "Innocent until proven guilty" must only apply to, ummm....let's see....drug pushers? The press has already convicted him and his life is pretty much ruined no matter the outcome of the trial. Sad.

re:Tommy | 1:10 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Silliest thing I have ever read.
Get a life.

Re: Mind Boggling | 1:10 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Mind boggling, have you ever been a victim of sexual abuse? Probably not or you would not have made those stupid comments. You are doing what so many people do in this society, blaming the victim! Until you have walked in a survivors shoes you have absolutely no right to put one ounce of blame on his or her shoulders! I suggest you take a class or go to a support group and listen to survivors of sexual abuse and you will be sadened by the hell they go through every day of there life. He was a man of authority and she was vulnerable. She is a child! He took 100% advantage of her. She is in no way shape or form guilty of anything. To say she wasn't helpless or she could have run for her life is another example of your naivity. This man (if he is truly guilty) has altered her life forever. I guarantee you she blames herself plenty, but, the reality is she hold zero percent of the blame. I don't think you would be making the comments you made if it was your child. I hope not anyway!

Good | 1:11 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Good Thing Pratt wasn't a Muslim.....Cause the DNEWS wouldn't report it if he was?

Ernest T. Bass | 1:25 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Is there anybody else besides me who thinks this guy is innocent?

@Mind boggling | 12:31 p.m. | 1:28 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

So when a bedraggled, dirty, street-dwelling prophet-wannabe manipulates a young girls mind and sexually assaults her over the course of several months, she is a brave, courageous person.

But, when a clean cut, seminary principal manipulates a young girls mind and sexually assaults her over the course of several months, she wasn't helpless, could have stopped it, and was along for the ride.

Double standard much?

pancakes | 1:29 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Pratt would never have pleaded "not guilty" for any other reason other than he is not guilty. He would not put his family through any more of this than would be absolutely called for.

How many "teachers" have been in this position and pleaded "not guilty?" Only the ones that were innocent, and were proven innocent. I don't think this is a prelude to a plea-bargain.

Keep in mind that Pratt sings to all of his students; he tells all of his students he loves them (yes, boys and girls); he texts ALL his students; and is concerned for every one of them. This girl is not special. She is actually a victim of a crime not related to Pratt that will come out in the trial. She LOVED being in the spotlight at the last hearing. Anyone who is an actual rape victim is terrified at the prospect of facing her perpetrator. If you had been there, you'd know that this gal was clearly enjoying the attention.

Plea Deal | 1:43 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

A) If he pleads guilty, he will be at the mercy of the court to sentence him.

B) If he pleads not guilty, he can work a plea deal and at least try to minimize his sentence.

Question to any attorneys out there not billing this hour, is this correct?

It still seems to me that, unless she is making more than 90% of this stuff up, the guy is going to do some time as it seems he should. His attorney is only doing what defense attorneys do--get the best "justice" for his client. If he doesn't, "Brother" Pratt might come back and argue he wasn't represented well and ask for a new trial.

Seems like the system is working so far. I hope he pleas if he is guilty and save this young woman from the humiliation of a trial. (If he is truly innocent, I hope he has a great attorney and comes out swinging.) This is a sad, bad deal all around.

Daisy...chill | 1:57 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Daisy, please don't get hysterical about religious leaders. For every idiot religious leader who abuses his power there are a thousand others who are honorable and good and who help others immeasurably.

We hear of mothers in the news all the time who abuse and kill their children. Does that mean you should never trust another mother or become one yourself? Of course not. The same argument could apply to anyone or anything else.

Think so | 2:00 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

This is worst than robbing a store....

Give me a break | 2:01 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Yea, Yea. But I feel the girl should be held acountable for her actions too. It takes two to tango. Maybe she just doesn't want to be grounded for a year.

JMT | 2:04 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

In both court systems one is suppose to be innocent until proven guilty. In both systems the readers of this newspaper have already tried the case, heard all the evidence, convicted him and now you are ticked off that the actual courts are so slow.

In my lifetime I have far more convincing cases turn out to be far from what was initially acused.

Has anyone here actually seen a shred of evidence? I mean outside of the news stories you've read or watched on TV. Have you seen the telephone records, etc? Has the accused had any press time to make the case as to why he would plead innocent? No? But everyone here knows for a fact what happened. All because someone was accused of it.

Settle down and let this play out. Maybe they did have a relationship that was too close but what if no sex ever happened. If not, he is a bonehead but not a rapist. Big difference. What if she made that up with the intent of suing the heck out of the LDS Church, with daydreams of millions in settlement? I've seen similar.

Let the case sort itself out.

J Robinson | 2:06 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Have you ever been falsley accused? He may have been only trying to help someone with emotional problems.

He did go out of the way many times to help other students. She may have fell in love and made the whole thing up, because he did not want her.

The truth will come out.

Anonymous | 2:16 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

I am not Mormon, but I do know one thing: "He is innocent until proven guilty." How do you know that he did it? Where there witnesses? Of course not.

The trial is not yet over.

@ 1:10 p.m. | 2:23 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

Have you ever been the victim of a false accusation? Probably not or you would not have made that stupid comment. You are doing what so many people do in this society, assume the accused is guilty! Until you have walked in a survivors shoes of the falsely accused, you have absolutely no right to decree one ounce of blame on his or her shoulders! I suggest you take a class in due process of law, the writ of habeas corpus, and the presumption that all men are considered innocent until proven guilty. You will be saddened to see all those men who had been put locked up for 10, 15, 20 years only to be PROVEN innocent and wrongly imprisoned. And those were just the ones that didn't die first. This man (if he is truely innocent) has had his life forever altered. "Child Rapist" is a stigma not even the innocent can escape. I don't think you would be making the comments you made if it was you or your loved one who has publicly accused. I hope not anyway.

Mick Dundee | 2:27 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

This guy is so full of it. Look at that face.

re re mind boggling 1:10pm | 2:33 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

"she hold zero percent of the blame"? Are you serious? You mean to tell me that when you were 16 you had ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA that having sex with other people's husbands is wrong? Give me a break. I do not in any way shape or form think what this man did is ok. It is completely sick and wrong. And obviously an older person in a position of trust has much more responsibility and should be held much more accountable for abusing that trust. And I'll even go so far as to say she hasn't broken laws like he has. But to say that a 16-year old high school student did absolutely nothing wrong here is ludicrous and to claim she's completely innocent of anything and everything is completely ridiculous. This isn't a 5, 7, or even a 10-year old child that we're talking about. She may not be AS accountable as him, but that doesn't mean she did nothing wrong here. 16 year olds are sometimes pretty stupid, but they're not so stupid that they don't know that something like this is wrong.

Years ago | 2:40 p.m. Nov. 10, 2009

I knew a girl who was a friend of my daughter and she dreamed up a bunch of horrible stuff and wrote notes to HERSELF AND to my daughter to look like they had been written by the junior high principal. It all came to light, but not until after she had caused my daughter and myself a LOT of grief, anxiety and pain. We thought we needed to protect her and tried to help her, but her mother, who must have suspected her own daughter all along, flew into a rage at us for bringing it all to light. The guilty are not necessarily stupid, sometimes they are highly capable of making things look as they want them to. Allow this man to have a fair trial. Let the facts be shown before convicting him.

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