Former Lafayette Jeff choir director found guilty of child solicitation
Ja’Shon Burks guilty on 13 of 15 counts of criminal behavior with students, civil suits settled. Plus, WL metered parking and parks impact fees OK’d. And $6.3M lined up for Columbian Park Zoo exhibits
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Catching up a bit this afternoon …
JURY: FORMER LAFAYETTE JEFF CHOIR TEACHER GUILTY ON 13 OF 15 CHILD SEDUCTION, SEXUAL BATTERY CHARGES
Ja’Shon Burks, a former Lafayette Jefferson High School choir teacher, faces sentencing in December after a jury convicted him on 13 of 15 charges related to allegations of inappropriate contact with students he worked with.
A jury delivered the verdict against Burks, 31, after deliberating five hours Friday at the end of a four-day trial in Tippecanoe Superior Court 2.
Burks, who resigned at Lafayette Jeff in 2022, was convicted on 11 felony counts of child seduction and two felony counts of sexual battery. The jury said he was not guilty on two other counts of sexual battery.
Burks was in the Tippecanoe County Jail, as of Tuesday, ahead of a Dec. 13 sentencing hearing. Burks faces sentences of six to 30 months for 10 of the counts, and one to six years for three of the counts.
In separate action Monday, the Lafayette School Corp. school board approved legal settlements connected to three former students during a monthly board meeting.
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