FRONT PAGE A1 www.tooeletranscript.com TUESDAY Grantsville posts first-ever region soccer victory See A10 TOOELETRANSCRIPT BULLETIN May 1, 2007 SERVING TOOELE COUNTY SINCE 1894 VOL. 113 NO. 98 50¢ East Elementary teacher charged with multiple counts of sex abuse Police allege he fondled his third-grade students in class during school hours by Suzanne Ashe STAFF WRITER A third-grade teacher at Tooele’s East Elementary School was arraigned in 3rd District Court this morning on charges that he sexually abused several students in his classroom by touching them inappropri- ately. photography / Maegan Burr Christopher Burton, 25, who taught third Generations of Grantsville firefighters along with Mayor Byron Anderson grade, has been charged with eight counts cut a fire hose Saturday with the jaws of life to open the new Grantsville of aggravated sexual abuse of a child. Each fire station. count is a first-degree felony. Appearing in red jail-issued shirt and blue pants, Burton did not address the court, nor did he show any expression. New Grantsville Judge Mark Kouris set a $200,000, cash- only bail. According to Tooele County Attorney fire station opens Doug Hogan, Burton reportedly took “inde- cent liberties” with students in his class- Next-generation facility will be home to 66- room by placing a student on his lap, putting his hand in the pocket of the student, and year, all-volunteer tradition then rubbing the student’s genitalia. “No by Karen Hunt in 1960. It’s intended to serve a skin-to-skin contact was made,” Hogan said, rapidly growing Grantsville, and who added that wasn’t a requirement for the STAFF WRITER severity of the charges. Just before Grantsville Fire has aid agreements with other Hogan said the allegations came about Chief Lance Marshall and Mayor communities across the county. March 31, after a student of Burton’s told Byron Anderson ceremonially “It’s a lot more modern and their parents that the teacher had touched cut a firefighting hose in honor of more functionable,” said Fire the student inappropriately the day before. Grantsville City’s new fire station Chief Marshall. “And we can fit The parents called the sheriff’s department, Saturday, a call came in about our equipment into it. We don’t who in turn launched an investigation. a brush fire. The garage doors have to store anything outside.” So far eight children have come forward came up, a shiny engine drove In the past, Fire Chief Marshall saying they were abused by Burton. Their out with its lights flashing, and said the tender — a truck that stories were similar. To protect the identities the new facility was christened holds 5,000 gallons of water to of the children, the sex of the alleged victims in the best possible way — by fight fires in outlying areas — has not been released. demonstrating its usefulness. couldn’t be filled in the winter Meanwhile, many parents of Burton’s for- Saturday marked the official because the water would freeze mer students have expressed their amaze- opening of the 15,215-square- outside. Now it can be filled ment, saying he was a popular teacher. foot station, which took about with water 24 hours a day year “This is a very difficult time for him,” said 14 months to build and cost round. defense attorney Tara Isaacson after the approximately $2 million. The “Which is good for a lot of the hearing. She added that Burton denies the new facility was designed by outlying areas,” said Fire Chief allegations. Isaacson, who also represents MTHN Architects of Salt Lake Marshall, “because they’re not high-profile polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, City and will be staffed by some added: “I remind everyone not to rush to 50 volunteers. It replaces the SEE STATION ON A3 judgment.” town’s first firehouse completed Isaacson has only seen the charges and probable cause statement, but will be review- ing police evidence to make certain that the Strip mall bringing Domino’s photography / Troy Boman Former East Elementary School teacher Christopher Burton appears in 3rd District Court and Subway to Grantsville SEE ABUSE ON A5 today. He has been charged with eight counts of aggravated sex abuse of a child. by Mark Watson “Residential building has STAFF WRITER outpaced commercial develop- Years of meager shopping ment in Grantsville while it’s opportunities for Grantsville the opposite in Tooele with Case dropped against mom accused of killing baby residents may be winding down all its commercial development. Now commercial in Grantsville by Suzanne Ashe January after a medical exam- ed to a call at Cordova’s Shay Jimmie Jones. as commercial developments iner’s report concluded that her Lane residence Sept. 14, 2006. According to Tooele County catch up with a growing popu- is starting to catch up,” said STAFF WRITER Mike Colson, who is a partner The Tooele County Attorney’s baby, Serenity Magness, who Officers had been told the infant Attorney Doug Hogan, Jones lation. died last September, had inju- had stopped breathing. told police he heard Cordova with Wade Sandberg in building Office filed a motion yesterday Three commercial building ries to her neck and eyes that Cordova, who lives with her admit she was guilty. Without Grantsville Town Center at 225 to dismiss, without prejudice, projects will be completed in were the result of being shaken boyfriend and two small chil- Jones as a witness, however, the town this year including a E. Main St. a case against a Tooele woman Their project will be one of or thrown. dren in Tooele, was taken into state prosecutors were unwill- new ReMax real estate office on accused of first-degree murder According to detectives of the custody January 19, 2007. ing to proceed to trial. Main Street, a second building the first to bring national eater- in the death of her 4-month-old ies to Grantsville following the Tooele City Police Department, The motion to dismiss, filed Dismissal without prejudice at the strip mall at the corner of baby last fall. arrival of an A&W Restaurant an arrest warrant was issued yesterday, was based on the fact allows the state, at its option, to SR-138 and SR-112, and the new Dominique Cordova, 24, several years ago. after a lengthy investigation that that investigators were unable refile the case at a future date. Grantsville Town Center shop- of Tooele was arrested last began when police respond- to locate a valuable witness: [email protected] ping plaza just east of Soelberg’s Domino’s Pizza, Subway Market. A fourth project in the Sandwiches, Edward Jones, planning stages is a Maverick a hair salon and a dentist Country Store at the corner of Tooele plan aims to ease small builders’ water woes SR-138 and SR-112. SEE SHOPPING ON A6 by Mark Watson able to find anybody who would John Hansen. out and purchase enough water STAFF WRITER sell him the needed water rights. After listening to the pleas rights to meet the needs of some Already own a lot in Tooele Without those rights secured, of landowners, the city council residents. and want to build on it? Not Tooele City would not issue him asked Mayor Patrick Dunlavy to Dunlavy explained that the so fast. Even if the property a building permit. work on possible solutions. The city would sell water rights has been yours forever, you The case was typical for many mayor will present a proposal to at market prices — currently can’t even dig a foundation on small-property owners. Major city leaders Wednesday night at around $10,000 for an acre foot it unless you also own water water rights owners are either city council meeting that would of water — and each credit sold rights for the land. And those not ready to sell or prefer selling make it possible for some one- would equal one acre foot of haven’t been easy to come by to those who want to buy rights time house builders to acquire water. The rate would be adjust- lately. in bulk. That creates a situation water rights. ed quarterly according to mar- Now, however, Tooele City is where big developers have an “Our proposal is simple,” ket value. The council still needs working on a plan to enable inside track on acquiring water. Dunlavy said. “The city has some to discuss the plan. small-scale builders to build on Miller Motorsports Park water rights already that we sell Steve Slack, a water rights their land by allowing them to owner Larry H. Miller has said to commercial operations need- specialist for the state, said new purchase water rights directly the main reason he purchased ing water — up to 10 credits. We home buyers should make sure from the city. land in Grantsville was to obtain would simply do the same thing water comes with their prop- The problem came to the fore water rights for his Tooele for residents. We would offer erty. again last month when city resi- County racing venture. them the option to buy up to 10 “When you update the title, photography / Troy Boman dent Lawrence Romero told the “The situation with water credits of water.” you should make sure the water Co-developers Wade Sandberg and Mike Colson (l-r) wait outside their Tooele City Council about tabling rights has been a real eye-open- The mayor said the city does rights are on there,” he said. new strip mall project in Grantsville on Monday. The project has two his plans to build a house on his er to me as a city councilman not have an abundance of water Slack said Tooele Valley has buildings, both built using a type of “Eco-Block” which adds foam insu- own property after he was not as we try to find more water rights, but with money earned lation to concrete for better energy efficiency.