Back to the Real Salt Lake Newsfeed

Midvale high school teacher charged with touching students inappropriately

A Midvale high school science teacher, who a colleague described to police as being “touchy” with students, was charged Thursday with sexual battery.

On Wednesday, the now-former Hillcrest High School teacher, 28-year-old Gustavo Helaman Orellana, submitted his resignation letter to Canyons School District, district spokesman Jeff Haney said. Orellana had been on paid administrative leave since Dec. 6, when school officials first learned of the allegations involving female students.

Court documents detail two incidents where Orellana allegedly inappropriately touched students. On Sept. 1, a student told a Unified Police detective that Orellana walked up to her as she spoke with another student and touched her buttocks.