A teacher has been accused of smuggling a 14-year old female student into a classroom in a storage bin and engaging in an inappropriate relationship with her, according to Valley Central.
Utah teacher Lucas Sloan Talley, 38, has been teaching at South Hills Middle School for twelve years, Valley Central reported. Throughout his time at the school, he maintained personal contact with young girls through text messages and emails, according to a police booking affidavit, Valley Central reported.
Talley admitted to struggling from the lack of validation he used to receive from female students after the middle school closed due to the pandemic, according to the affidavit. He said this led to him talking to the female victim every school day even though he recognized he was “overstepping his teacher role.”
Talley brought treats to the girl and stayed inside her home for hours at a time in which he allegedly touched the female victim inappropriately on several accounts, according to the police, Valley Central reported.
DISTURBING: Police in Utah arrested a former middle school teacher on Friday & charged him with kidnapping a girl by placing her in a plastic bin and taking her into his classroom, as well as for other inappropriate relations with students in the past. https://t.co/btRX7iVCJK pic.twitter.com/p74YLEsSo8
— WTVC NewsChannel 9 (@newschannelnine) December 7, 2020
Talley justified his actions by claiming it was a “type of therapy for him,” the affidavit states. (RELATED: Philadelphia Teacher Charged With Having Sex With A Student While His Wife Was Pregnant)
Talley planned two meetings at the closed, empty school with the female victim, according to Valley Central. When the student arrived, Talley directed her into a storage bin which he wheeled into the school on a dolly, according to the affidavit.
In the bin, Talley included a note that read, “Hope your box is comfortable,” according to Deseret News.
Talley reportedly resigned a week prior to his arrest, Valley Central reported.
A spokeswoman for the school district stated Talley is no longer an employee of the Jordan School District, according to Valley Central.
Talley currently faces two charges of kidnapping and is being held without bail at the Salt Lake County Jail, according to Valley Central.