A former teacher at South Hills Middle School is in Riverton Police custody after a report of inappropriate relationships with multiple teenage female students.
Lucas Sloan Talley is accused of having personal contact with multiple students through text messages and email. Much of this contact was not school related, but that of a personal nature.
Charges against Talley stem from an instance of an emotional relationship with a 14-year-old female student during the 2019-2020 school year.
Beginning in April of 2020, Talley began talking to the victim about his marriage, anxiety, and depression. He also began taking gifts to the victim, and spending time with her inside her home. In June of 2020, the victim’s mother asked Talley to stop communication with her daughter, which he understood and acknowledged, but did not do. Talley acknowledged that other parents have asked him to stop talking to their children in the past.
As the relationship grew, Talley allegedly planned two separate instances where he met with the victim at South Hills Middle School while the building was closed due to the pandemic.
According to a probable cause statement, Talley told the student to get into a large Sterilite bin, which he then placed on a dolly and transported to his classroom. He told detectives he named the bin after the student, and he placed a label inside the bin which stated, “hope your box is comfortable.”
Detectives found the student had been inappropriately touched by Talley multiple times, which made her uncomfortable.
Talley told detectives he had thought of being with the victim as a couple, but knew he would have to wait six or seven years. Multiple emails, text messages, and video messages were obtained by police, which show Talley telling the victim he loves her and misses her. Talley is currently married with four children.
During the investigation and interview with Talley, he told detectives he has anxiety and panic attacks, and has reached out to multiple former and current female students as a method of validation. He said when the school shut down due to the pandemic, he struggled with not having that validation.
Talley reportedly resigned from South Hills Middle School in late November. Jordan School District has confirmed he is no longer an employee.
