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MOAB — An art teacher in the Grand County School District arrested last fall is now facing a formal charge accusing him of touching a young girl inappropriately.
Robert Bruce Hucko, 70, was charged Friday in 7th District Court with sex abuse of a child, a second-degree felony.
Hucko was originally arrested in August after a 12-year-old reported being inappropriately touched by her art teacher, according to charging documents.
On Aug. 1, "Hucko entered her home while her parents were not present and remained there. Hucko showed the children an art book, and the victim then went to show Hucko the family art room. While in the hallway, Hucko smacked the victim's butt," charging documents state.
The girl also revealed that during one-on-one time in art class, Hucko would rub the girl's shoulder, according to the charge.
"This is a serious sexual felony against a child. The fact that the suspect entered and remained in a home with no parents present expresses a certain aspect of daring on his part. The suspect is also a teacher with access and trust to a multitude of children in the community," police stated at the time of his arrest.
Hucko was an art coach at a local elementary school and also a local photographer. According to the bio that was on his photography website, he had been teaching art to children since 1978 in addition to being a professional landscape photographer. He was with the Grand County School District for approximately 20 years.
At the time of his arrest, classes had not yet started for the 2023-24 school year. Hucko was placed on leave before the year started.
