Former Nebo School District teacher concerned more students were victims of alleged sexual abuse

SPANISH FORK, Utah – Are there more victims? That’s the question a former Nebo School District teacher is asking following the arrest of an elementary school custodian.

Adrian Villar is being accused of the sexual abuse of two children, ages 8 and 11.

Janna Slye says she first alerted the school, then district officials back in February 2017, now she’s wondering what took so long to arrest the man and who else could be affected.

From the beginning, for Slye it was always about the kids. She says she loved her job as a special education teacher at Sierra Bonita Elementary school in Spanish Fork until February 2017.

“I walked out (of my classroom), and I was standing outside the restroom and yelled, ‘Hey buddy, are you doing OK?’” Slye said.

She said a student of hers had been in the bathroom longer than usual causing her to become concerned.

“I called a second time, and I said, ‘Do you need some help?’ and that’s when I heard Mr. Villar say, ‘Hey, I’m in here too.’”

Slye says she reported the incident to the principal, and when she spoke with him again, he told her the investigation was resolved.

“He told me: we just need to put some policy training in place and I promise this will never happen again, but I was negligent in leaving the student alone in the restroom with the custodian.”

Slye says it was common practice to allow students to go to the restroom alone. Slye says she later witnessed another incident that raised red flags.

“I walked past the custodian’s office and I saw the other student sitting closely (to Villar) in what looked like a personal conversation, and it caught me off guard, and I went straight to the school psychologist,” she said.

Related: Spanish Fork janitor accused of sexually abusing 2 students

At the end of 2017, Villar transferred to Santaquin Elementary School.

“I absolutely think there is more victims, and I hope they are identified, and I hope they are able to get the help they need,” she said.

Slye says she finally went to the parents of the two students when she realized they hadn’t been notified.

In a statement, the district said in part: Nebo School District is cooperating completely with law enforcement in this investigation and arrest that allegedly occurred in the employee’s previous assignment.

“To think he was in schools for a year and a half before this happened is really disappointing,” she said.

KSL TV reached out to the Spanish Fork Police Department, to ask if there are reports of more victims. Spanish Fork police declined to answer, citing the ongoing investigation.

Related: Spanish Fork High School counselor accused of sexually abusing student