DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A former Johnston teacher accused of groping and making sexual comments to an anatomy class student has been given two years of probation.
Court records say 34-year-old Dustin Mead entered an Alford plea to a harassment charge in a plea deal. He originally pleaded not guilty to sexual abuse and sexual abuse by a school employee. The Alford plea means Mead acknowledges there’s enough evidence for a jury to reach a guilty verdict, but he says he didn’t commit the acts alleged.
Mead resigned from his teaching job at Johnston schools in April 2017 after a female student alleged he gave her grades she didn’t earn, made sexual comments and groped her during the 2015-2016 school year.
People were interested in these podcasts
Mead’s lawyer, Guy Cook, told The Des Moines Register that Mead “maintains his innocence because he is innocent.”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.