Trial set for accused teacher

FARMINGTON -- It may be jurors who decide the fate of a former Bountiful Junior High School teacher this spring.

A three-day trial has been set for Valynne Asay Bowers, 40, of Bountiful.

She is charged with five counts of felony rape and three counts of first- degree felony sodomy in connection with a sexual relationship with a 14-year-old boy who was a former student.

She is accused of having sex with the boy from January through February.

Second District Court Judge John Morris in Farmington on Thursday set March 8, 9 and 10 for the trial.

Several other hearings have been set before the trial to consider filed motions.

Defense Attorney Rich Gallegos said he needs to review a recording done by Bountiful police when they arrested Bowers in March. He said he was unaware of the recording until an officer discussed it during the preliminary hearing.

"We want to be sure Miranda (rights) applies," Gallegos said after the hearing.

Gallegos said when asked if the trial may be tough to win, "Every trial is a tough trial."

Gallegos said he believes if jurors heard the facts of the case they would agree with him and his client that the state filed the wrong charges.

If jurors get the chance to hear the case, Gallegos said he plans to ask them to consider a lesser charge, not the first- degree felonies.

Bowers "has never maintained innocence, but has wanted to take responsibility for the acts which she committed," Gallegos said.

Gallegos said he believes Bowers should have been charged with third-degree felony sexual activity with a minor, not first-degree felonies.

"She was a great teacher," Gallegos said. "Students loved her."

Bountiful police arrested Bowers after another teacher, Linda Richins Nef, went to police and told them about Bowers' relationship and her own relationship with the boy.

Nef, 46, also had a relationship with the boy when he was 13 years old.

Nef, a social studies teacher and cheerleader adviser, pleaded guilty in June to first-degree felony attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a child and is now serving three years to life in the Utah State Prison.