Principal Accused of Sexual Misconduct, Ashley Jones, Universe, July 13, 2009

Principal Accused of Sexual Misconduct

By Ashley Jones
Universe
July 13, 2009

http://universe.byu.edu/node/962

Michael J. Pratt. Former seminary principal.

A former LDS seminary principal accused of sexual misconduct with a 16-year-old girl appeared in the 4th District Court yesterday for an official felony first appearance.

Michael J. Pratt, 37, of Orem, was working as the principal of Lone Peak High School’s seminary program where the girl was a student, according to LDS Church spokeswoman Kim Farah.

“I am hopeful that the truth will be fully presented at the appropriate time,” Pratt told press at the court on Monday.

Police say the abuse began in May and included numerous outings to nearby canyons where the two would engage in sex acts.

Police also say they discovered hundreds of text messages between Pratt and the girl, several of which were sexually explicit.

Information was given to the Utah Division of Child and Family Services, which then contacted law enforcement.

Pratt was booked into the Utah County Jail on Thursday for investigation of alleged aggravated kidnapping, unlawful sexual conduct with a 16-or 17-year-old, aggravated forcible sex abuse, forcible sodomy, object rape, lewdness, burglary, criminal trespassing, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and enticing a minor.

As of Monday afternoon, Pratt had yet to be charged for any of the alleged actions.

The judge set bail on Friday at $20,000 cash only, and it was paid early Saturday morning.

Prosecutor Guy Probert told Judge Steven Hansen there were some “evidentiary questions” relating to the laptop used by Pratt, which had been sent out of the area with Pratt’s family after the allegations surfaced. A copy of the hard drive was produced yesterday after the laptop was returned by a family member.

“(The church) condemns abuse of any kind and expected the highest moral and ethical standards of its seminary employees,” Farah said.

Michael Pratt’s employment was terminated as soon as allegations surfaced. The matter was then immediately reported to law enforcement.

“Our hearts go out to the victim and family members,” Farah said. “Counseling and other resources have been offered to help the victim in the healing process.”

Utah County Sheriff’s Sgt. Matt Higley of the Utah Valley Special Victims Task Force said the acts were consensual. Pratt, who is married and has children, has no prior criminal record. There is also no indication of other victims.

Contact: ashleyelizabethj@gmail.com