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Logan High School teacher told police he thought teen girl was an adult, had a sexual relationship with her, charges state

(Photo courtesy of Weber County Sheriff's Office)  Joseph Scott Harris

(Photo courtesy of Weber County Sheriff's Office) Joseph Scott Harris

A teacher at Logan High School has been charged with having a sexual relationship with a 15-year-old girl.

Joseph Scott Harris, 57, was arrested after Weber County sheriff’s deputies caught him with the teen girl in a parked car in West Haven on Friday, according to a probable cause statement.

“The two occupants were in various states of undress,” the document said.

At the sheriff’s office, the teen told police she and Harris had engaged in sex acts multiple times since Jan. 3.

In his interview, Harris said he’d met the girl online and thought she was 19, but “admitted” the teen “looked young,” the document says.

Harris was formally charged Tuesday in 2nd District Court with six third-degree felony counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, each of which is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Harris was booked into the Weber County jail but released after posting $30,000 bail.

An initial court appearance was set for March 1.

On Logan High School’s website, Harris is listed as a skilled and technical sciences teacher.

Logan City School District Superintendent Frank Schofield said Wednesday that Harris had been placed on unpaid suspension, pending the outcome of the criminal case.

(Photo courtesy of Logan High School) Joseph Scott Harris

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