By Sara Israelsen-hartley
Deseret News
August 19, 2009
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705324250,00.html
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| Former LDS seminary principal Michael Jay Pratt, center, walks past supporters Tuesday. |
AMERICAN FORK — Attorneys for the former LDS seminary principal accused of developing a sexual relationship with a student are waiting for more evidence before proceeding with the case.
Michael Jay Pratt, 37, was surrounded by friends and former students Tuesday morning as he made an appearance in 4th District Court and got another hearing date for Sept. 8.
One of Pratt's attorneys, Dusty Kawai, told the judge they still need to see cell-phone records and text messages and asked for the three-week continuance.
Prosecutor Julia Thomas said her office is still waiting for cell-phone companies to comply with subpoenas for the information, but she said she expects to have the records by September. At that point, she said she will ask for a preliminary hearing.
Pratt was arrested July 9 after police learned he had been checking a 16-year-old girl out of Lone Peak High School without her parents' knowledge or permission and taking her to various locations around the county for sexual encounters, according to a police affidavit filed in 4th District Court.
Police say the two also exchanged hundreds of text messages, many of them sexually explicit, according to the affidavit.
Pratt now faces 21 charges, including forcible sodomy, object rape and forcible sex abuse — a combination of first- and second-degree felonies.
The alleged victim, now 17, told the Deseret News that her relationship with Pratt started out as a friendship but eventually progressed to a romantic one. She said Pratt would buy her gifts and make grandiose promises about their future together.
The allegations of abuse never came from the girl, but her dad emphasized it was he and his wife who approached officials of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who then approached police with concerns.
As soon as the allegations surfaced, Pratt was terminated from his role as principal, according to church officials.
After being arrested, Pratt was able to borrow enough money from friends to post the $20,000 cash-only bail and appeared in court wearing a shirt and tie, not handcuffs, at his first appearance.
However, he wants to pay those people back, so Kawai filed a motion to address bail.
Thomas said they agreed to increase the bail amount to $30,000 but make it bondable. This way, Pratt can pay $3,000 cash and get the rest of the money refunded, so he can pay people back.
Pratt left the courthouse declining to comment, but before the quick hearing, he greeted students who came to support him with handshakes, then he told them he loved them.
And according to several students, it's a mutual feeling.
"We love him," said Blake Ellis, a recent Lone Peak graduate. "He's a good guy. We wanted to show our support for him."
Another graduate, Linnea Torriente, called Pratt a good friend and someone who was always willing to talk with her.
"He was always a smiling face," she said. "He would tell me, 'You're so righteous,' and give me high-fives. He made me feel good about myself."
And no matter what happens, guilty or not, the students said they will still love and support Pratt.
"He was always there for us," Ellis said, "so we'll be there for him."
e-mail: sisraelsen@desnews.com
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