Utah’s LEHI (KSL.com) Charges have been brought against a former special education teacher’s assistant in Utah for allegedly attempting to arrange a sexual encounter with a teenager in Utah County.
Magna resident John Royal Belliston, 40, was charged in 4th District Court on Thursday with two charges of disseminating harmful materials to a minor, a third-degree felony, and enticing a minor, a second-degree felony.
Belliston wrote, “Who wants to come play with a teacher?” on an unidentified social networking platform. based on an affidavit of police booking. Responding was a Lehi police officer who was impersonating a 13-year-old girl on the internet.
According to the criminal documents, Belliston told the girl that he is a teacher and wanted to indulge her teacher fantasies.
According to the affidavit, he proceeded to send the undercover officer two improper images and sexually explicit messages.
When asked if he had ever done anything with his students before, John responded, “I have not,” according to the affidavit, even though he acknowledged engaging in inappropriate behavior in the staff room.
The arresting officer noted, “I was able to obtain John’s employment history, which did in fact show he worked for two different school districts in Utah.” However, it should be mentioned that John does not now have direct access to children because he is no longer employed.
Belliston was found and taken into custody by police on Monday afternoon.
