Utah teacher charged with inappropriately touching students

Four fifth-grade girls in Salt Lake City have accused their teacher of touching them inappropriately.

James Rolland Carter, 62, was charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court with two second-degree felony counts of sexual abuse of a child and two class A misdemeanor counts of lewdness involving a child.

Carter's school is not identified in the charges, but the address of the allegations matches Lincoln Elementary School.

The Salt Lake City School District would not confirm any details of a case involving Carter, but spokesman Michael Williams said that an elementary teacher who was employed for 13 years "is under investigation for alleged improper conduct." Williams would not identify the teacher by name.

The teacher was put on administrative leave in April, when a complaint was made to police, Williams said. The district is taking no further action until the pending criminal case is resolved.

Williams said he is "not aware" of whether parents of other children in the class were told of the investigation. A substitute teacher was placed in the class of the accused teacher, Williams said.

A $30,000 warrant for Carter's arrest has been issued.

ealberty@sltrib.com