Philip Gregory Speers, 35, a former second grade teacher at St. Francis of Assisi School in Yuma, Arizona convicted of two counts of molestation of a child in a retrial early this month has been sentenced.

Speers was sentenced to 17 years in prison on each count, with the sentences by law required to run consecutive for a total of 34 years in prison.

Following the sentencing, Speers mother Charlotte said, “Yuma County taxpayers need to know this is not how this case will end. The prosecution cannot win the case against Greg in a fair trial. There are so many reversible errors, it will once again be overturned by the higher courts. Every time we go back to trial, more of the truth is revealed and more counts are dropped. In the end, Greg will be found totally innocent and will be a free man. We aren’t ever going to give up on this, no matter how long it takes”.

Speers was credited with the 2,553 days previously served, dating back to his original conviction, which was over-turned on appeal.

Speers is awaiting a retrial for the 2002 conviction on two counts of sexual exploitation of a minor for having child pornography on his computer. That conviction was also over-turned. He was originally sentenced to 34 years total on those counts.

Reference:

Ex-teacher Speers sentenced to 34 years (8/30/07)

View All Bad Bad Teacher Coverage of the Cases Of Philip Gregory Speers

Philip Gregory Speers, 35, a former second grade teacher at St. Francis of Assisi School in Yuma, Arizona has been convicted of two counts of molestation of a child.

Speers was acquitted on two other counts of molestation of a child and one count of sexual conduct with a minor.

This was a retrial of a case from 2003 in which Speers was originally convicted on all five counts and sentenced to 71 years in prison. That conviction and a previous conviction in 2002 for possession of child pornography were overturned by the Arizona Court of Appeals necessitating new trials.

After a 14-day trial and nearly 4 days of deliberations the jury returned with the split verdict finding that the two girls Speers was found guilty of molesting were under 15 years of age at the time which will affect sentencing.

Speers still must face retrial on the 2002 child pornography conviction.

Sentencing in this case is currently set for August 29th.

References:

Former Yuma teacher convicted in molestation case (8/03/07)

Former Yuma teacher convicted in molestation case (8/03/07)

Speers guilty on two charges (8/02/07)

Speers Verdict In (8/03/07)

Background:

Jury Selection Begins in Speers Re-Trial (6/26/07)

Speers: ‘No pride left’ (2/07/07) (Interview with Philip Gregory Speers)

View All Bad Bad Teacher Coverage of the Cases Of Philip Gregory Speers