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UTAH STATE PRISON — A former Kaysville teacher and basketball coach convicted of sexually abusing one of his students will not get another chance at parole for another nine years.
Stephen Niedzwiecki, 35, was convicted in 2014 of two counts of unlawful sexual activity with a minor and two counts of unlawful sexual conduct with a 16- or 17-year-old, all third-degree felonies.
Niedzwiecki sexually abused Jamie Heiner for about a year. He was Heiner's teacher and basketball coach at Jefferson Academy, a charter school in Kaysville. She was 15 when the abuse began. Niedzwiecki was sentenced to a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Heiner has spoken publicly about the case, hoping to use her experience to encourage other victims to speak out.
Last week, a hearing before a member of the Utah Board of Pardons and Parole was held for Niedzwiecki. He apologized for his actions while Heiner's family pleaded that he serve his full sentence.
Related:
Woman, abused as student, pleads to keep ex-teacher in prison
"I am so sorry for what I did to my victim," a soft spoken Stephen Niedzwiecki said Tuesday. "I won't be able to say I'm sorry enough."Board member Clark Harms told Niedzwiecki that he would have to complete certain sex offender treatment programs before he would even be considered for parole. The full board has now given Niedzwiecki until 2024 to complete that.
At that time, the board will again decide whether to grant a parole date, a new parole hearing or if he should serve his full sentence.
If he serves his full sentence, Niedzwiecki would be released in 2034.
