Feb 2, 2007 - Ben Newby, a Meadow Elementary School teacher, was in court in efforts to reach a plea agreement.
The former Lehi teacher left the state in 1985 and moved to Colorado, where he has been teaching at an intermediate school. He was arrested in Colorado on April 11, after a one-time student accused him of sexually abusing him more than 20 years ago. Because Newby moved from Utah to Colorado, the statute of limitations did not apply and Newby was extradited.Defense attorney Ken Brown requested that the case be continued for further negotiations. The hearing was rescheduled to Feb 15.
UPDATE Feb 15 - Newby pleaded guilty to forcible sexual abuse of two of his students and was sentenced to spend the next two years in jail. The boys were third graders at the time. One victim spoke to the reporter.
"It was very embarrassing, it was something I was still ashamed of and it was something that's haunted me for a long time. After getting over the point I could talk about it, it was such a relief to be able to do that and clear that skeleton, so I'm really happy."Newby worked in Kansas, Arizona and Colorado and investigators have been worried that there are other victims in other places.
TT - It takes extraordinary courage to stand up for what's right. The reward isn't vengeance but the knowledge that others won't suffer the same victimization by child predators who depend upon shame and humiliation to silence their victims. The only real shame is that this predator will only go to jail for two years.
