Teacher cited on 5 sex counts against minors

A former Dixie High School teacher has been charged with allegedly touching four female students in his ceramics class during the past school year.

Ronald Scott Sherman, 61, is charged in 5th District Court with five counts of sexual battery, each a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail. Deputy Washington County Attorney Ryan Shaum said two of the five counts were filed in connection with one of the alleged victims.

The teens told police Sherman had either touched or grabbed their buttocks
during class, according to a probable cause statement filed with the charges.
One girl told St. George police that Sherman had touched her
on "several occasions," according to court documents. She also said he had also
rubbed himself against her thigh. Two other girls told police that Sherman had
asked to see their genitals and had offered one of them $100.

The alleged crimes occurred between August 2006 through May 2007, but police Sgt. Craig Harding said the continuing investigation includes the previous school year. Sherman, who surrendered to jail officials last Friday, is scheduled to make his first court appearance on Tuesday.