Morris Brent Whitlock

Sources

1. Whitlock gets term in prison, Deseret News, October 1, 2001.
2. STATE OF UTAH vs. BRENT WHITLOCK CASE NUMBER 011401909, Utah Court Records, May 7, 2001.
3. Ex-teacher pleads guilty to 2 sex-abuse counts, Deseret News, March 9, 2001.
4. Ex-teacher says he is battling pedophilia, Deseret News, September 24, 2001.
5. Investigation awaits teacher, Daily Herald, May 10, 2001.
6. Ex-Am.F. teacher to undergo a 2nd psychological test, Deseret News, June 19, 2001.
7. Teacher Sentenced to Up to 15 Years for Sex Abuse, The Salt Tribune, October 2, 2001.
8. Morris Brent Whitlock/ Educator License Look Up, Utah State Board of Education, September 7, 2001.

• 1. Whitlock gets term in prison

  • 20011001
  • News article
  • Deseret News

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  AMERICAN FORK — Brent Whitlock was seen by friends and neighbors in this quiet Utah County burg as a champion of local arts and youth activities.

  But a 4th District judge shattered those notions Monday, calling him a predator who schemed to place himself near young men and violate the trust of the community.

  For that betrayal, Judge Lynn Davis threw out a recommendation by Adult Probation and Parole for time in jail and sentenced Whitlock to one to 15 years in the Utah State Prison on two second-degree counts of child sex abuse.

  Identifying some 19 victims, Davis said Whitlock's offenses outweighed his contributions to his community.

  "This is a 20-year crime spree," Davis said. "This is a sad story. A sad story of molestation . . . a story of a blatant breech of trust and exploitation of children."

  Before imposing sentence, Davis disclosed that he was friends with Whitlock's parents and has known them since he was a youth. Davis said he grew up picking oranges for the Whitlock family in California but added it did not affect his judgment.

  The 45-year-old Whitlock was a teacher for more than two decades at Shelly Elementary School, sang in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and served in the bishopric of a Latter-day Saint student congregation at Brigham Young University.

  Many in American Fork say they feel betrayed and angry with Whitlock, a man they trusted with their children.

  Summoning the courage to speak out, one 31-year-old man spoke in court about his sexual abuse by Whitlock when he was a youth.

  "I was most likely one of your first victims," the man said. "After you did what you did to me, you worked with my mother and lied to her . . . (you) had every opportunity to show a little backbone. All you'll ever be now is a pedophile and a sex offender to those of us who know you."

  Whitlock said he feels deep remorse for what he has done and asked the court to sentence him to two years in the county jail, plus therapy.

  "What causes me to question his remorse is that this went on for many, many years," said Utah County deputy prosecutor Sherry Ragan, adding that Whitlock continued to accept callings in his church and accept youth leadership positions in the community, knowing what he was doing.

  Whitlock's son chastised victims' families and others, saying they should be ashamed to ask for a strict sentence for his father.

  "How dare you, you are hurt and you are shocked — so am I," said Jeffrey Whitlock. "To come here and ask for a higher sentence . . . think about the family first, the family first."

  Other members of the community said they now have to deal with their children's ability to trust another adult again.

  Friends of Whitlock said in court that they believe he has truly tried to make a change by cooperating with authorities and seeking help.

  Ragan countered that Whitlock will likely be a threat to children for the rest of his life.

  A fellow teacher, who said she worked with Whitlock a number of years, said she felt betrayed and angered when her son came to her, alleging that Whitlock had abused him.
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  "I thought I knew the man," she said. "Maybe if I'd taken my son more seriously, maybe other boys wouldn't have been hurt."

  Davis credited the courage of two young men, who came forward about a year ago to report the abuse to police. Adding that in a way the whole community is a victim in this case, a noticeably shaken judge left the bench, saying this was difficult case.

• 2. STATE OF UTAH vs. BRENT WHITLOCK CASE NUMBER 011401909

  • 20010507
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  • Utah Court Records

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  FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT - PROVO DISTRICT COURT
  UTAH COUNTY, STATE OF UTAH
  STATE OF UTAH vs. BRENT WHITLOCK
  CASE NUMBER 011401909 State Felony

  CHARGES

  Charge 1 - 76-5-404.1 - SEX ABUSE CHILD - 2nd Degree Felony
  Offense Date: June 01, 1994
  Plea: May 07, 2001 Guilty
  Disposition: May 07, 2001 {Guilty Plea}

  Charge 2 - 76-5-404.1 - SEX ABUSE CHILD - 2nd Degree Felony
  Offense Date: June 01, 1994
  Plea: May 07, 2001 Guilty
  Disposition: May 07, 2001 {Guilty Plea}

  CURRENT ASSIGNED JUDGE
  SEAN PETERSEN

  PARTIES
  Plaintiff - STATE OF UTAH
  Defendant - BRENT WHITLOCK

  DEFENDANT INFORMATION
  Defendant Name: BRENT WHITLOCK
  Offense Tracking Number: 129961
  Date of Birth: August 11, 1955
  Law Enforcement Agency: AMERICAN FORK POLICE
  Prosecuting Agency: UTAH COUNTY
  Violation Date: 06-01-1994

  ACCOUNT SUMMARY
  CASE NOTE
  PROCEEDINGS

  DATE SEQ EVENT
  05-07-2001 Judge LYNN W DAVIS assigned.
  05-07-2001 ENTRY OF PLEA scheduled on May 07, 2001 at 10:00 AM with Judge GUY R. BURNINGHAM
  05-07-2001 Case filed by terik
  05-07-2001 Filed: From an Information
  05-07-2001 Filed: Statement by Defendant Before Pleading Guilty
  05-07-2001 Charge 1 Disposition is {Guilty Plea}
  05-07-2001 Charge 2 Disposition is {Guilty Plea}
  05-07-2001 Minute Entry - Minutes for Arraignment
  Judge: JOHN C. BACKLUND

  PRESENT
  08-25-2026 01:50 PM Page 1 of 4
  Prosecutor: HADFIELD, PHILLIP W
  Defendant Present
  Defendant's Attorney(s): FAUST, ROBERT P
  Clerk: terik
  Video
  Tape Number: 18 Tape Count: 10:35

  ARRAIGNMENT
  A copy of the Information is given to the defendant.
  Advised of rights and penalties.
  Presentence Investigation ordered.
  The Judge orders ADULT PROBATION AND PAROLE to prepare the report.
  Statement by Defendant is received after the factual basis is given. The sentencing agreement of the State is stated for the record.

  SENTENCING is scheduled.
  Date: 06/18/2001
  Time: 08:00 a.m.
  Location: Third floor, Rm 301
  Before Judge: LYNN W. DAVIS
  FOURTH DISTRICT COURT
  125 N 100 W
  PROVO, UT 84601
  05-07-2001 SENTENCING scheduled on June 18, 2001 at 08:00 AM with Judge LYNN W DAVIS
  05-08-2001 Filed: Verification of Victims' and Witnesses' Rights Notification
  06-01-2001 Filed: Request for video tape submitted
  06-13-2001 Filed: Letter to the Court in regards to sentencing of Defendant
  06-18-2001 Minute Entry - Minutes for SENTENCING
  Judge: LYNN W. DAVIS
  PRESENT
  Prosecutor: RAGAN, SHERRY E
  Defendant Present
  Defendant's Attorney(s): FAUST, ROBERT P
  Clerk: jessicac
  Video
  Tape Number: 532 Tape Count: 10:16

  HEARING
  The parties stipulate to a diagnostic evaluation.The Court orders that the defendant serve a 90diagnostic evaluation at the Utah State Prison. The Defendant is to be taken into custody forthwith tobe transported to the Utah State Prison.

  SENTENCING.
  Date: 09/17/2001
  Time: 08:00 a.m.
  Location: Third floor, Rm 301
  Before Judge: LYNN W. DAVIS
  FOURTH DISTRICT COURT
  125 N 100 W
  PROVO, UT 84601
  06-18-2001 Cancelled: SENTENCING scheduled on September 17, 2001 at08:00 AM with Judge LYNN W DAVIS
  08-25-2026 01:50 PM Page 2 of
  CASE NUMBER: 011401909 State Felony4

• 3. Ex-teacher pleads guilty to 2 sex-abuse counts

  • 20010309
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  • Deseret News

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  PROVO — A former American Fork schoolteacher and baseball coach pleaded guilty Monday to two counts of sexual abuse of a child.

  Brent Whitlock, 45, now faces the possibility of spending up to 15 years in prison for each second-degree felony count.

  American Fork Police Lt. Andrew Hale said Whitlock was charged with sexual abuse when two of his alleged victims spoke of the abuse with leaders of their wards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

  Hale said in a statement that investigators found incidents going back as far as 1978 and ending in the fall of 2000.

  However, Hale said many of the alleged incidents they investigated fell outside the statute of limitations.
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  Whitlock is expected to be sentenced June 18.

• 4. Ex-teacher says he is battling pedophilia

  • 20010924
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  • Deseret News

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  PROVO — Facing the possibility of spending 15 years in prison, accused of molesting more than a dozen children, a former American Fork elementary school teacher and coach says he is struggling with his pedophilia, which has left his public and personal life in ruin.

  In a letter to 4th District Judge Lynn Davis, 45-year-old Brent Whitlock said he is filled with shame and guilt and has learned a great deal about his "critical thinking errors."

  Whitlock, who was scheduled to be sentenced last Monday on two counts of child sex abuse, remains at the Utah State Prison, where he is undergoing a psycho-sexual evaluation. He is expected to be sentenced Oct. 1.

  Whitlock states he is responsible for preventing himself from re-offending and to make the "lifestyle" changes that will eliminate his access to children.

  "You can't fall over the cliff if you don't get too close to the edge. I can never allow myself to get too close to the edge," Whitlock wrote.

  But prosecutors allege Whitlock, who worked 20 years as a physical education and music teacher at Shelly Elementary School, spent almost two decades over that edge, molesting young boys between the ages of 10 and 17 — many of whom were students or children he coached on softball teams.

  Utah County deputy prosecutor Sherry Ragan said investigators believe Whitlock may have molested young boys in American Fork as far back as 1978. But because many of those incidents occurred outside the statute of limitations, Whitlock could only be charged with the more recent events, Ragan said.

  According to American Fork police, the case came to light earlier this year when two boys went to police to report being repeatedly molested.

  Ragan said when Whitlock spoke to police he reportedly confessed to 23 years of abusing children he was entrusted to teach, coach and care for.

  "He came down and pretty much confessed," Ragan said. "But I don't know how much of that counts for 23 years of abuse."

  In his letter, Whitlock asked Davis to sentence him to a halfway house with intense therapy or two years in the county jail, pointing out that he has cooperated fully with police and that he has no criminal history of drugs, alcohol or violence.
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  Yet, according to the state's pre-sentence report, Ragan said all arrows point toward prison. The latest evaluation, she said, will determine if he should be placed in a sex offender therapy program within the prison.

  "I've lost everything — the profession I loved, my membership in my church, and the respect of the community. I have disgraced my family and betrayed my dear wife. And now, I have lost my freedom," Whitlock wrote, adding he is left with strong support from friends and family.

  Ragan said she is surprised that there has been little outrage being expressed by the American Fork community, adding those who do show up in court are mainly in support of Whitlock.

• 5. Investigation awaits teacher

  • 20010510
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  • Daily Herald

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  The Daily Herald

  AMERICAN FORK — The next step for former fifth- and sixth-grade teacher Brent Whitlock, who pleaded guilty earlier this week to child sex abuse, is yet another investigation.

  And this one is expected to play strongly in determining his sentencing on June 10.

  After a two-month police investigation, the 45-year-old former Shelley Elementary School teacher pleaded guilty Monday to one count of sexual abuse of a child, from 1994, and to a similar charge for a 1998 crime. The 23-year teaching veteran had accepted a plea deal agreed to by county prosecutors where they won’t recommend prison as part of his sentence.

  Fourth District Judge Lynn Davis accepted Whitlock’s plea to the two second-degree felonies, which carry a 1-15 year sentence each.

  Then Davis ordered Whitlock to undergo a pre-sentencing investigation to be conducted by state adult probation and parole representatives.

  Whitlock signed a pre-plea statement which speaks of his deal with prosecutors.

  “The state will not recommend prison and will not oppose defendant’s request for probation,” he wrote.

  Whitlock resigned Feb. 16 from his teaching post.

  “He resigned before we were aware of any of these allegations,” said Susan Stone, Alpine School District assistant superintendent of personnel.

  But since allegations came to light, the district has reported what it has learned to the department of the State Board of Education that controls teacher certification.

  American Fork Police Sgt. Greg Ludlow investigated allegations going back as far as 1978, which were said to have ended in the fall of 2000.

  “We interviewed 21 potential victims, however, many of the incidents occurred outside the statute of limitations,” Police Lt. Andrew Hale said, adding that an LDS bishop first reported allegations to police.

  Whitlock cooperated with Ludlow and provided the names of possible victims and circumstances surrounding his involvement with them.

  Police said besides being a teacher, Whitlock is a former baseball coach and told investigators he had met some of his victims at school or at city recreation programs.

  Whitlock reportedly said the abuse occurred at the city recreation center or at his home in northwest American Fork.

  After his cooperation with police, Whitlock was released on his own recognizance.

  Pat Christian can be reached at 344-2556 or at pchristi@heraldextra.com.

  This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A8.

• 6. Ex-Am.F. teacher to undergo a 2nd psychological test

  • 20010619
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  • Deseret News

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  PROVO — A former American Fork elementary school teacher accused of molesting dozens of students and family members over a 20-year period has been ordered to undergo a second psychological evaluation before being sentenced.

  Brent Whitlock, 45, appeared Monday with an entourage of family members in Provo's 4th District Court for sentencing on two counts of child sex abuse, a second-degree felony.

  Whitlock, who worked 20 years as a physical education and music teacher at Shelly Elementary School in American Fork, appeared visibly shaken at the prospect of spending up to 15 years in prison on the two counts to which he recently plead guilty.

  But both the prosecution and the defense asked that sentencing be postponed.

  Utah County prosecutor Sherry Ragan said Whitlock needed to undergo a second psychological evaluation because the psychiatrist that performed the first evaluation was hired by Whitlock's family.

  "We have some concerns about some things, the state wants more information" before sentencing, Ragan said.

  Fourth District Court Judge Lynn Davis granted the request and ordered Whitlock to be taken into custody to spend 90 days at the Utah State Prison for the new evaluation.

  When the former teacher comes back for sentencing Sept. 17, state officials will recommend he be sent to prison, Ragan said.

  "This is mainly based on the number of victims and the number of years," Ragan said.

  American Fork Police Chief Terry Fox said the case came to light after two young men told a church leader of the alleged abuse.
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  Fox said police have identified about 20 victims, ranging in age from 11 to 15 years old at the time they were abused.

  Fox also said Whitlock allegedly abused boys over two decades. Many of the victims were students at Shelly Elementary, others were children Whitlock coached during little league baseball and some were family members, Fox said.

  Prosecutors have said only two charges were filed because the four-year statute of limitations had run out on many of the incidents that allegedly involved as many as 20 children.

• 7. Teacher Sentenced to Up to 15 Years for Sex Abuse

  • 20011002
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  • The Salt Tribune

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  The Salt Lake Tribune, Tue, Oct 02, 2001, Page 30

  A former Utah County teacher went to prison Monday for up to 15 years for sexually abusing numerous boys he met at school or through city recreation programs.

  American Fork resident and former physical education instructor Morris Brent Whitlock worked for almost 23 years at Shelley Elementary School in the Alpine School District, where he taught fourth, fifth and sixth grades.

  Earlier this year, police interviewed 21 victims who had been between 12 and 14 years old at the time of the fondling incidents, which date back to 1978.

  The sexual assaults happened at the city recreation center, where he coached youth baseball teams, or at Whitlock's home.

  In May, Whitlock, 45, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree felony sexual abuse of a child, each punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

  On Monday, 4th District Judge Lynn Davis ordered the two terms to run concurrently. The judge also said Whitlock should be enrolled in intensive psychosexual therapy while serving his prison time.

  An investigation of Whitlock began earlier this year after two of his victims, who are now in their mid-20s, told their bishops in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints about the assaults.

  The bishops, in turn, reported the incidents to police.

  Police said Whitlock cooperated with officers, providing the names of 19 other victims. Whitlock resigned from his teaching job Feb. 16.

  — Stephen Hunt

• 8. Morris Brent Whitlock/ Educator License Look Up

  • 20010907
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  • Utah State Board of Education

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  Educator Licensing Lookup
  Morris Whitlock
  License

  Type
  2
  Status
  Revoked
  Issued
  7/1/2000
  Expires
  6/30/2004
  First Professionally Licensed
  7/1/2000

  Note: If the date shown is July 1, 2000, it does not reflect the original license date. This date was assigned during an electronic system update. For more information, contact the Licensing Team.
  Discipline
  Sep 07, 2001 License has been Revoked by the Utah State Board of Education. For more information please file an open records request.