BishopAccountability.org
	Judge Sets Bond for Accused Child Rapist at $250k Police Arrested John Utin in Virginia; the Retired Teacher Allegedly Sexually Abused a Young Girl in Middletown By Lauren Pack Middletown Journal September 29, 2006 http://www.middletownjournal.com/hp/content/oh/story/news/local/2006/09/29/mj092906utincourt.html Hamilton — A Butler County judge set bond at $250,000 for a retired Virginia middle school teacher accused of molesting a Middletown girl and several other juveniles in his hometown. John Utin, 64, a well-known and longtime math and science teacher in Blacksburg, Va., near Roanoke, pleaded not guilty Thursday in Butler County Common Pleas Court to eight counts of rape and eight counts of gross sexual imposition. Utin, who did not speak, entered the courtroom wearing shackles and an orange jumpsuit with stitches on his head. Middletown police said Utin intentionally harmed himself last week in the Middletown City Jail when he jumped off his jail cell toilet onto the corner of his bed, where he struck his head. Defense attorney Paris Ellis filed a motion to suppress statements Utin made to Middletown police detectives who arrested him last week in Virginia. According to police reports, Utin told them he has had several inappropriate relationships with minors over the past 30 years. Judge Matthew Crehan scheduled a suppression hearing for the motion at 9 a.m. Oct. 23. Crehan did not issue a gag order, but instructed the prosecution and defense attorneys to watch the statements they made. Crehan said he wanted to avoid polluting a potential jury pool. "I would suggest the prosecution and defense attorneys be circumspect in their remarks to the media," he said. Ellis said he is researching a request for a gag order and may file a such a request. When addressing the issue of bond, Butler County Prosecutor Robin Piper noted in addition to the 16 indictments in his county, there are other victims and charges also are expected to be filed in Virginia. Ellis said, "Let's deal with what the charges are here." Utin is accused of inappropriately touching a Middletown girl, who is now 12, when she was between the ages of 5 and 9 and engaging in sexual conduct with the child, according to Middletown police. The incidents allegedly took place in Middletown, at Utin's home in Blacksburg and at the swim club there he has managed for 28 years, police said. Authorities in Blacksburg also are investigating cases of victims who have come forward since Utin's arrest, officials said. Utin was indicted Wednesday on 16 counts of sexual contact with a minor. Piper said he would seek life in jail for Utin, who would also face charges back in his hometown, "but not until we are done with him," Following the hearing, Piper had little to say, especially after the judge's warning. "The indictment speaks for itself," he said. According to the Roanoke Times, Utin is a native of Oxford, England, who came to Virginia Tech in the 1960s as a place kicker for the football team. He was a science and math teacher in the Montgomery County School system from 1968 to 2003, when he retired. Utin also taught Sunday school and was involved in many civic activities. Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2841 or lpack@coxohio.com.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.