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A former Provo High teacher who pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a student was sentenced Monday to prison for up to life.
Donald Nelson Bills, 55, pleaded guilty in July to first-degree felony counts of attempted forcible sodomy and attempted object rape, as well as second-degree felony counts of forcible sexual abuse and obstruction of justice, and third-degree felony tampering with a witness.
Ten other similar charges were dismissed as part of a plea deal.
On Monday, 4th District Judge James Taylor ordered Bills to serve prison time on all five counts and ordered the terms to run consecutively — for a cumulative sentence of eight years to life.
"We place great trust in our teachers," he said, according to the Daily Herald.
The judge also ordered Bills to pay a fine of $85,715.
"It's a great result for the victim and her family," Deputy Utah County Attorney Craig Johnson told The Salt Lake Tribune in a phone interview. "It's extremely gratifying."
Bills' defense attorney had asked the court to consider a far lesser sentence of one year in jail and three years probation, Johnson said. More than 100 people, including other Provo High teachers, submitted letters of support on Bills' behalf, citing his record as a past "Teacher of the Year" and other attributes to the judge, Johnson said.
"She took great offense to that," Johnson said, adding that in the victim's remarks to the court on Monday, she said that she, too, had held Bills in high opinion before he forced her into complying with his sexual demands.
The Salt Lake Tribune does not typically identify victims of sexual abuse.
"He told me over and over again it was my fault," the victim testified. "I was in such a dark place. I remained silent so that way, the only person who would get hurt was me."
The victim, who with her parents spoke collectively to the packed courtroom for about two hours, chastised those, particularly other educators, who have continued to side with Bills and blame her for his legal troubles, Johnson said.
"She was emotional, but she never broke down," he said.
"I see you for what you truly are, a monster," the victim told Bills during her testimony. "I will be dealing with this for the rest of my life. You had no right."
Bills also spoke, Johnson said, apologizing to the victim and to others whom he said had been harmed by his actions.
Bills met the alleged victim in 2012 at a softball game in which she was playing, according to charging documents. During that 2012-2013 school year, she took physiology and sports medicine classes from Bills.
The two saw each other on a daily basis, according to charges, and the teacher often talked to the student about school, sports, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his church mission. He also spoke of "his belief that the beauty of the human body ... signaled the role of a great creator," according to court records.
Bills and the victim's relationship increased in seriousness, and in November 2013, he allegedly kissed the girl. A month later — when the girl was 17 — the relationship had progressed to inappropriate touching and sexual contact, prosecutors allege.