PROVO, Utah (AP) - A longtime high school science teacher is facing sex abuse charges after acknowledging he had a sexual relationship with a student, officials said Friday.
Donald Bills, 54, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of forcible sexual abuse, rape and forcible sodomy, said Provo police Lt. Mathew Siufanua. Bills was released from Utah County Jail on Friday after posting $20,000 bail.
Bills, who has been a teacher at Provo High School for 18 years, has been put on leave, said Provo City School District spokesman Caleb Price. He said he didn’t know if it was paid leave.
A message seeking comment was left Friday at a number listed under Bills’ name. It wasn’t clear if he has an attorney.
The relationship between Bills and the 17-year-old female student came to light after one of the girl’s friends saw an inappropriate text from the teacher, which led to the girl telling her parents, Siufanua said.
The school’s principal was made aware of the allegations Thursday morning and called police, Price said. The teenage girl told police she first kissed Bills in December, and the sexual relations happened in the last two weeks. They believe some of the episodes happened during school hours.
No previous incidents involving Bills have been reported in his nearly two decades at the school, Price said. Police didn’t think there are other victims, though they are encouraging people with any information to call.
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