AURORA, Colo. -- An Arapahoe County judge on Monday sentenced a former Aurora Public Schools music teacher to serve 90 days in jail after he pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a student.
Zachary Timbrell agreed to a plea deal last month, admitting to charges of sexual exploitation of a minor and attempted sexual assault.
Timbrell worked as a music teacher at Vista Peak Preparatory until June 2016 when he resigned after the allegations regarding the student came to light. He was charged in December.
At a sentencing hearing Monday, the now 19-year-old victim in the case told the judge she trusted Timbrell as her teacher and he violated her trust. She said the abuse significantly impacted her life. She said she had to be hospitalized and lost her college scholarship because she missed too many classes. She also called Timbrell a sexual predator.
Timbrell told the judge he took responsibility for his actions and he regretted the hurt he caused the victim and his own family. Timbrell also told the court he has been in treatment for six months. His wife asked the judge to spare him a jail sentence.
Prosecutors asked Judge Ben Leutwyler to sentence Timbrell to three years in prison. Instead, the judge sentenced the former teacher to 90 days in jail and five years of probation, including intensive sex offender supervision.
The judge also ordered Timbrell to register as a sex offender and avoid contact with any children other than his own.
