SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, Nov. 24, 2025 (Gephardt Daily) — A former teacher at West High School has been convicted of multiple sex-related crimes against a student who was a juvenile at the time of the abuse.
A Third District Court jury found Sterrett Oney Neale, 60, guilty of:
- Two counts of forcible sodomy, a first-degree felony
- Three counts of object rape, a first-degree felony
- Two counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony
“The victim told investigators about a pattern of the abuse that began in March of 2017, when she was a 17-year-old student of the defendant, after a school play that the victim participated in and the defendant directed,” says a news release issued by the Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office.
The victim said Neale had her come to his classroom after school, and would kiss and sexually abuse her. At the time, Neale worked as a creative writing and language arts teacher.
West High School. File photo: Gephardt Daily/Patrick Benedict
In August of 2017, the defendant began having the victim meet him in the parking lot of a local hospital, where he would pick her up and drive her to his home while his wife was not there, the release says.
“He would pull into his garage, while making the victim duck down so no one would see her. He then would take her back to his bedroom and sexually abuse her. This pattern of abuse lasted for over a year before she turned 18 years old,” the statement says.
The victim said Neale took her to his house once every week or two between Aug. 2017 and February 2019, his April 24, 2019 arrest document says.
Salt Lake County D.A. Sim Gill released a statement.
“Our teachers are meant to protect and educate our children, not abuse them,” Gill said, in the news release.
“We hope that this jury verdict helps the victim-survivor feel that she has received some justice, though perfect justice would mean this would have never happened to her. We believe this verdict demonstrates the accountability our community expects of our teachers, who we entrust with our children every day.”
Gill thanked the prosecutors and the support staff.
“I want to thank our social worker, Cami Heng, for her work with the victim-survivor throughout this difficult process,” he added. “We appreciate the thorough investigation done by Salt Lake City Police.”
In August of 2017, the defendant began having the victim meet him in the parking lot of a local hospital, where he would pick her up and drive her to his home while his wife was not there, the release says.
“He would pull into his garage, while making the victim duck down so no one would see her. He then would take her back to his bedroom and sexually abuse her. This pattern of abuse lasted for over a year before she turned 18 years old,” the statement says.
The victim said Neale took her to his house one every week or two between Aug. 2017 and February 2019, his April 24, 2019 arrest document says.
Neale’s sentencing has been set for Jan. 5.
Salt Lake County D.A. Sim Gill released a statement.
“Our teachers are meant to protect and educate our children, not abuse them,” Gill said, in the news release.
“We hope that this jury verdict helps the victim-survivor feel that she has received some justice, though perfect justice would mean this would have never happened to her. We believe this verdict demonstrates the accountability our community expects of our teachers, who we entrust with our children every day.”
