Utah Teacher Accused of Rape, Sexual Assault of Female Student
A Utah teacher has been accused of raping a female student from the Riverton High School, where she taught and coached girls' basketball. Courtney Louise Jarrell, 22, has been charged with rape and forcible sexual abused but denies all charges.
Jarrell taught math and coached at Riverton for eight months before the alleged victim, 17, brought charges against the teacher. Jarrell was suspended after the school district received "a complaint about inappropriate behavior," Jordan School District spokeswoman Sandy Riesgraf told KSL News.
The complaint was then turned over to the police, who investigated and reportedly found evidence of sexual activity between Jarrell and the student between the months of February and March. Jarrell had been on administrative leave while the investigation continued but turned in her resignation on Friday.
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She told the district she wanted to focus on her defense and plans to enter a plea of "not guilty" when she goes before the court on May 16. Jarrell faces charges of object rape, which is a first-degree felony, as well as forcible sexual abuse, which is a second-degree felony. She could wind up with a heavy prison sentence if found guilty of the charges.
Jarrell has been bailed out of jail but reporters were unable to find out where she is currently staying. Fox 13 reporters found an eviction notice on her front door when they visited her home for comment and are still awaiting a response from Jarrell's lawyer.
Students are in disbelief over the charges brought against their teacher and/or coach, who was quite popular within the community. No other students have brought allegations of misconduct against Jarrell at this time.
"Everybody loved her," student Kathryn Orchard told KSL. "My parents were even way shocked because my parents loved her too. They thought she was a great teacher."
"She was really nice, what I saw of her. I would've never expected this to happen," fellow student Taylor Nielson told Fox 13.
