West High teacher charged with sexually abusing student

A West High teacher accused of sexually abusing one of his students has been charged with seven felonies.

Sterrett Oney Neale, 54, has been on unpaid administrative leave from Salt Lake City School District since last week when he was arrested in his classroom. He is now facing charges for object rape, forcible sodomy and forcible sexual abuse.

The creative writing and language arts teacher allegedly engaged in sexual activities with a then-17-year-old student starting in March 2017.

The student told police that Neale kissed and touched her in his West High classroom twice a week for two months, according to the probable cause statement. In August of that year, the student said, she started going to his house and alleged he continued the sexual interactions at least twice a month until this past February and after she had graduated.

Police are asking for other potential victims to come forward.

Though detectives had been investigating the case until March, it appears the school district didn’t know about the allegations until the arrest. The district wrote in a letter to parents: “This allegation is dreadful and, as parents, we know this will be of great concern to you. … The allegations against this individual are deeply unsettling, and we are committed to supporting the work of our police department in their investigation."

Neale has been on staff with the district since 1994.