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Former teacher accused of sexually abusing teenage girl in Davis County

Posted at 4:27 PM, Dec 12, 2016
and last updated 2016-12-12 18:31:59-05

DAVIS COUNTY, Utah — A former teacher in Davis County is accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl, and police say the teen is not one of the suspect’s students.

According to a statement of probable cause, a 16-year-old girl disclosed that she was allegedly sexually abused by 69-year-old Douglas B. Tate on several occasions between July and October of 2016.

Farmington police said Tate was teaching part-time at Viewmont High School, but the alleged victim attended a different school and the two met somehow during the summer time.

The man allegedly engaged in various acts of inappropriate sexual contact with the teen while in Farmington and Layton.

On November 22, Tate allegedly sent a text message to the teen saying the alleged abuse had been reported to his employer. In other messages he told the victim: “Does anybody know” and “please don’t say anything” along with a direction to “get rid of everything” on her phone.

Two days after that first text message, Tate was found by Tooele County deputies inside a car parked at a canyon and ultimately taken to a hospital.

When he was found he had consumed alcohol and medications and was suffering from hypothermia, leading police to believe he was a danger to himself. In light of that, and along with his alleged attempts at witness tampering, police requested the man’s bail be set at a higher amount.

During the dates of the alleged abuse, police say the suspect occupied a position of special trust in relation to the victim.

Christopher Williams of the Davis School District confirmed to Fox 13 News that Tate was hired by the school district in August of 2008 as a part-time chemistry teacher at Viewmont High School.

Williams said Tate was placed on administrative leave on November 22, and Tate resigned his position with the district on November 30.

“At this point, there is no indication that the alleged allegations involved one of our students,” Williams stated in an email. “However, if there are individuals with information regarding similar alleged activity, we ask that they contact local law enforcement.”

Tate is charged with three counts of forcible sodomy, three counts of object rape, two counts of forcible sexual abuse and one count of tampering with a witness. A warrant was issued for his arrest on December 8.