As reported by Hometown Life, a 26 year-old high school choral instructor, charged with a multitude of sexual crimes involving three of his male students, has pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on August 9.
The students are now aged 16, 17 and 18. The sexual contact allegedly occurred in 2011.
The teacher, B.T., formerly of Wayne Memorial High School, may be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. Wayne County Circuit Judge Margie Braxton will preside at the sentencing.
Two male students alleged that B.T. had sex with them and the third stated that he and B.T. exchanged nude photos. The sexual acts allegedly occurred in B.T.'s office and at his sister's home in Garden City. Sexual incidents also allegedly took place in his car while parked near Romulus Road.
The student that exchanged explicit photos with B.T. from their cellular phones has claimed that no sex occurred between the two.
B.T. pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal sexual conduct, fourth-degree CSC, child sexually abusive activity, using a computer to commit a crime and distributing sexually explicit material to children, according to Wayne County Assistant Prosecutor Maria Miller.
The guilty plea was entered five weeks after the three teens testified in a preliminary exam. In the Romulus 34th District Court the students said that they voluntarily engaged in sex with B.T. However, Judge Tina Brooks Green ruled that, by law, sex between a teacher and student couldn't be deemed consensual.
At one point Judge Green commented, "This happened in the high school in his office, and he's a teacher."
B.T. was considered a popular vocal music teacher by both teachers and students – prior to a mother contacting the police to report inappropriate contact between B.T. and her minor son. When the police began an investigation Wayne-Westland Community Schools Superintendent Greg Baracy stated that the school officials provided their full cooperation.
During his account, the now 18 year-old student explained that the sexual trysts between himself and B.T. began after he was cast in a school musical and the two started texting. The texting eventually led to unprotected sex after school – in B.T.'s office.
The same student witnessed B.T. perform oral sex on a fellow student, while the former sat in the backseat of B.T.'s car. The two teens then went to B.T.'s sister's home on another occasion, and engaged in other sexual acts. The other boy, now 17, corroborated the story in his own testimony.
Both boys contended that drugs and alcohol were not offered to them by B.T.
The third student, the youngest and now 16, admitted to exchanging nude photos with B.T. He stated that the two did not have sex.
Robert Mullen, B.T's defense attorney, stated that B.T.'s family has shown their support by attending court every time his client's case is heard. Mullen declined to offer any further comment.
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