Bad Bad Teacher

(03/06/09 – Initial BadBadTeacher.com Report)

Linda Richins Nef, 46, a Utah studies teacher and cheerleading adviser at Bountiful Junior High, in Bountiful, Utah has been arrested on allegations that she had a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old male student.

Nef was arrested Friday afternoon and charged with rape and sodomy on a child, both of which are first-degree felonies.

Nef was reportedly booked and released from the Davis County Jail on Friday afternoon.

Linda Nef came to the attention of police when when she allegedly confessed to her supervisor at Bountiful Junior High School indicating that she had been having sex with a 13-year-old male student.

It is alleged that the sexual relationship between Nef and the boy took place between October, 2007 and early December, 2008.

Reportedly Nef implicated Valynne Bowers, another teacher at Bountiful Junior High, saying that Bowers had been having sex with the same boy since December, 2008.

Bowers was arrested on Thursday night on charges of forcible sodomy of a child and child rape. She appeared in court on Friday and her bond was set in the amount of $20,000.

03/10/09 – Case Update

Stunned by the alleged rape of a student by two of his teachers, Bountiful Junior High School principal Brent Stephens spent most of Monday pacifying teachers and parents.

03/28/09 – Court Appearance

Linda Nef appeared in court Friday afternoon and another hearing date was set for April 10th.

Reportedly, Nef’s attorney says he’s trying to arrange a plea bargain and avoid a trial.

04/10/09 – Preliminary Hearing Waived

Today, Linda Nef waived her right to a preliminary hearing.

Nef’s attorney, Sean Druyon, says that his client is still negotiating with prosecutors for a possible plea deal, and that Nef is undergoing a psychosexual evaluation.

Nef’s next court date is May 5th for arraignment.

05/06/09 – Court Appearance

Linda Richins Nef appeared in court yesterday and entered a not guilty plea to charges of rape of a child and sodomy on a child.

Nef’s attorney has indicated that Nef admits inappropriate sexual encounters occurred between herself and the boy and termed the not guilty pleas as “a procedural mechanism” as the defense is still negotiating with prosecutors to craft a fair plea deal.

If convicted of the charges as they now stand, Nef would face a maximum of 25 years in prison.

Nef’s attorney, Sean Druyon, has said that the 14-year-old victim opposes the prosecution of his client.

06/10/09 – Judge Sets Deadline For Plea Deal

2nd District Judge Rodney Page has give Linda Nef one more week to work out a plea agreement with prosecutors or else she will be facing trial.

The judge indicated that this was the last continuance he would give in the case which has already had several delays.

Nef is scheduled to be back in court on June 16th and her attorney said that a plea deal is close without only a few details to be worked out.

06/16/09 – Guilty Plea

Today, Linda Richins Nef pleaded guilty to attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a child which is a first-degree felony that carries a sentencing range from three years to life in prison, although probation is an option if the judge so chooses.

According to the prosecutor, the victim’s family was informed of the plea deal and wanted a charge that would allow probation as an option for the judge to consider.

As part of the plea deal the prosecution reportedly will not make a recommendation regarding jail time.

07/21/09 – Sentencing

At her sentencing, Linda Nef told the victim, “I am so sorry for the pain you have been through, as a result of my completely selfish actions”.

Nef also apologized to “educators everywhere whose reputations have been damaged by my actions and former students who have lost faith in teachers because of me.”

Attorney Greg Skordas, representing the boy and his family, urged the judge to impose probation, noting that Nef has already lost her job and her dignity.

Nef’s defense attorney, Sean Druyon, quoted from a letter written by the boy and his family that said: “Mrs. Nef is not a dangerous person. She is person in dire need of counseling.” Druyon asked the judge to consider probation for Nef in part because she is the primary caretaker of her three children.

Druyon also cited a psycho-sexual evaluation that found Nef was not a pedophile and not a danger to re-offend.

Second District Judge Rodney Page sentenced Linda Nef to prison for three years to life.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 21st, 2009 at 8:40 pm and is filed under FE-MV, Hall of Shame, Junior High Schools, Utah. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.