Utah Teacher Arrested for Sexual Abuse in Eagle Mountain, Lawmaker Demands Accountability

EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah – Concerns about accountability in charter schools have resurfaced following the arrest of a teacher from Rockwell Charter High School in Eagle Mountain on charges of sex abuse.

Ricardo Prins, a former teacher at the school, is accused of sexually assaulting two students before allegedly fleeing to Brazil. The arrest has sparked outrage among parents, who are calling for action and greater oversight of charter schools.

Rockwell Charter High School operates under an independent board, and the Utah State Charter School Board also oversees charter schools in the state. According to the state’s charter school website, these institutions are governed by independent boards and held to legally binding contracts with their authorizers.

KUTV reached out to the executive director of the Utah State Charter School Board but did not receive a response.

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State Representative Candice Pierucci, a member of the education committee, expressed her shock and dismay over the incident. “It’s absolutely horrific,” Pierucci said.

When asked about potential gaps in oversight of charter schools, Pierucci described the case as an isolated incident. “This isn’t a charter school problem,” she stated. “Bad people exist everywhere—in charter schools, public schools, and across all industries. Both types of schools are licensed the same way and receive state funding.”

However, Pierucci acknowledged that more information is needed to understand how the abuse occurred. “We need to ask tough questions—how long has this been happening? Were there warning signs? How can these situations be prevented?” She added that further discussion would follow as more details emerge.

The Rockwell Charter School Board of Directors has stated that they are addressing the concerns raised by the community. A board meeting was initially scheduled for Wednesday but was canceled, and it remains unclear when, or if, it will be rescheduled.

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keelee-mccain

Keelee McCain is a junior at Weber High School. This is her second year on staff, this year as Assistant to the Chief. She does have a life (probably) but she can't think of anything to write in here, so she's probably just going to ramble now. She has an orange cat who she likes better than any human. If you see her being quiet or not sitting on top of a desk, there is something very wrong. In her free time she enjoys harassing her favorite teachers and sleeping. Her life plans include making it through high school and leaving. Happy lifeing.

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