Altice writes letter to judge, asks to not be sent to prison

Altice writes letter to judge, asks to not be sent to prison

(File Photo, Briana Scroggins/Pool)


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FARMINGTON — "I am harmless. I am not a threat."

Those were among the comments written by Brianne Land Altice, 35, in a letter to a judge asking him not to send her to prison. She pleaded guilty last month to sexually abusing three students she taught at Davis High School.

"My family and I understand that the law and society expect a debt and retribution to be paid for the crime I pled guilty to," Altice wrote in a letter to 2nd District Judge Thomas Kay, sent from the Davis County Jail where she is being held.

"Some incarceration, probation and fine are likely. If more incarceration time is what you believe needs to happen, I ask that you PLEASE consider that it be further jail time not prison. This crime will not be repeated by me, I can guarantee."

Altice is scheduled to be sentenced on July 9.

In her letter, Altice told the judge she hopes to take responsibility for her actions while remaining an active mother to her two children, starting a new career and continuing one-on-one counseling.

"My teaching career is over," the former English teacher acknowledged, expressing a desire to support technology legislation regarding electronic communications between teachers and students and developing corresponding software to help school districts "maintain authority and security with teacher-student communications."


Some incarceration, probation and fine are likely. If more incarceration time is what you believe needs to happen, I ask that you PLEASE consider that it be further jail time not prison. This crime will not be repeated by me, I can guarantee.

–Brianne Altice, letter to Judge Thomas Kay


"I began looking into this because I believe that is where problems can begin and escalate from there," Altice wrote. "I'd like to be an advocate, resource and help the prevention of future situations such as this."

A second letter filed on Friday — from a Syracuse man who identified himself as a college-graduated working professional who has been in a relationship with her since September — also asked that the woman not serve a prison sentence.

"The Brianne I know is a loving mother, sister and daughter. She cares most about her faith, children and family," Ed Porter wrote to the judge. "Despite the accusations I do believe she is neither a sexual predator nor a threat to the public as described by the prosecution. I do not believe she deserves prison or further jail time!"

In a plea deal, Altice pleaded guilty to three counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony, while 11 other felony charges were dropped. Altice had been facing four trials and 14 felony charges — including rape, forcible sodomy, forcible sexual abuse, unlawful sexual activity with a minor and dealing in materials harmful to a minor — stemming from sexual relationships with the three former students who were 16 or 17 years old at the time.

Four of those charges were filed stemming from continued sexual encounters between Altice and one of the victims while Altice was out on bail.

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Police say for several months during 2013 Altice had sexual relationships with the three teens she befriended at school, meeting them for sex at parks, in cars and at her home while her then-husband was away. The couple has since divorced.

Altice called the sexual relationships "bad choices" that occurred over "a short period of time."

"I will forever be sorry for my actions, and the loss it has caused on all sides," Altice wrote. "This situation will be a part of me forever, but will not define me. Good will come out of this. I am a fighter and I'm worth the fight, and I will succeed."

In addition to Altice's criminal case, two of the victims and their families have filed lawsuits against the Davis County School District. The Utah Attorney General's Office has called for the dismissal of one of those lawsuits.

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McKenzie Romero

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