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ST. GEORGE — A former St. George school teacher was sentenced to four consecutive life sentences Tuesday after pleading no contest to molesting students during his 32-year career.
Curtis William Payne, 60, of Santa Clara, appeared before 5th District Judge Jeffrey Wilcox to receive his sentencing and hear statements from his victims and their families. The prosecutor also read letters from victims who were unable to attend, wanted to maintain anonymity or who had yet to turn 18 years old.
Payne declined to address the court following the statements from his victims and his son, who asked the judge to enforce the maximum sentence and offered an apology to the victims on behalf of the family, excluding the defendant.
“Mr. Payne, I don’t have a lot to say to you. You have earned the sentence that will be handed down shortly,” Wilcox said.
Before sentencing Payne, Wilcox addressed the victims who had come forward throughout the case and any victims who have not yet spoken out.
Thirty-one women and girls between the ages of 12 and 41 years came forward to speak out against the former Washington County School District elementary school teacher who taught within the district for over 30 years.
Read the full article at St. George News.
