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A former Park City middle school band teacher accused of paying a 13-year-old male student to participate in a fake scientific study that included detailed questions about the student's sexuality has resolved the case by pleading guilty to lesser charges.

Derek Spitzer, 54, was charged in 3rd District Court with first-degree felony counts of solicitation to commit sodomy on a child and solicitation to commit aggravated sexual abuse of a child; a second-degree-felony count of enticing a minor; and two third-degree-felony counts of enticing a minor.

On Monday, Spitzer — who was fired in January — pleaded guilty to two second-degree felony counts of enticing a minor.

He faces up to 15 years in prison on each count when he is sentenced July 11 by Judge Paige Petersen. As part of Spitzer's plea deal, prosecutors have agreed to recommend concurrent prison terms.

Spitzer — who ultimately asked the student to engage in sex acts with him — offered to pay the student to take part in a "research project" with the "Kinsey Institute of Male Sexuality," according to charges.

"Spitzer used his position of special trust, as the student's teacher, to open lines of communication with the student and to groom him" before inviting him to join the "study," charges state.

Under the guise of a study, Spitzer sent emails to the student asking for measurements of his genitals and details of his sexuality, charges state.

Over time, Spitzer's questions became more sexually explicit and began to make [the student] feel increasingly uncomfortable," the charges state. Spitzer asked questions about the boy's sexual preferences and requested nude photos and a video of the student's genitals.

The student said Spitzer gave a $50 "thank you" card to him, charges state.

The student reported the correspondence to a school counselor when Spitzer began seeking sexual contact with the boy, charges state.

Spitzer allegedly wrote that he wanted a "sexual experience" with the boy, and to take him to Las Vegas, where the man "would be conducting sexual research on other nude males," charges state.

Investigators found about 500 emails between Spitzer and the student beginning in October, charges state.