Thursday, October 29, 2009

UT: West Jordan teaching aide faces sex abuse charges

Written by: Dan Metcalf Jr.
Email: dan.metcalf@abc4.com
Contributor: Annie Cutler
Last Update: 10/28 8:51 am


WEST JORDAN, Utah (ABC 4 News) - A former West Jordan Middle School teaching aide faces sex abuse charges after she was arrested on suspicion of having sexual relations with two 15-year-old male students.

31-year-old Andrea Billingsley was arrested on Tuesday and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail, suspected of 2 counts of felony sodomy, 3 counts of sexual abuse and 2 counts distribution of harmful materials to minors.

A probable cause statement says Billingsley, who, as a teacher for students with behavioral issues at the middle school picked the boys up and took them to a secluded location where she showed them explicit materials and engaged in sexual acts with them. The incident occurred sometime near July 20, 2009.

Police investigators say they acted on tip from other students who heard about the incident from the victims themselves.

Jordan School District officials say Billingsley passed a background check without any criminal history when she was hired in August of 2008.

Her position was eliminated due to lack of district funds in May of 2009.

District officials say they did not know of the investigation until Tuesday.

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