A former aide at West Jordan Middle School has been charged with five felonies for allegedly engaging in sex acts with two male students.
Andrea L. Billingsley, 31, was charged in 3rd District Court with two counts of forcible sodomy, a first-degree felony punishable by up to life in prison; and three counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison.
All five counts include the allegation that as a teacher's aide, Billingsley occupied a position of special trust in relation with the two boys.
The boys, ages 15 and 16, told police the sexual encounters occurred between Jan. 1 and July 30.
The older boy told police he met Billingsley when he was sent to In School Suspension (ISS), where students with behavioral problems are separated from other students and supervised by an aide.
The 16-year-old said that during one ISS session, Billingsley sat next to him, put her hand down his pants and touched his penis, according to charging documents.
On another occasion, Billingsley took the 16-year-old and a 15-year-old boy to a West Jordan park, where she touched the penises of both boys with her hand and mouth, charges state.
Billingsley is being held at the Salt Lake County jail in lieu of $200,000 bail.
Jordan School District spokesman Steven Dunham has said Billingsley was a part-time, temporary employee, who worked at the middle school 17 hours a week between August 2008 and May 2009. He said she passed a criminal background check prior to being hired.
Police said Billingsley was not asked to return to the school this year because money for her position was unavailable.
The alleged abuse recently came to light because the two boys talked to other students about what happened. School administrators were told and they contacted police, Roberts said.
At least one of Billingsley's neighbors said the allegations come as "a total shock."
"She's a caring, loving mother," said Kathy Shepherd, who lives across the street. "She's always been a great neighbor. She watches out for all the kids outside, as we do for her kids. She's just been a very nice, wonderful person -- one of the more stable people I know."
An 8:30 a.m. arraignment hearing is set for today before Judge Royal Hansen.
