Former Rich High Teacher Pleads Guilty Of Sexual Assault Of Student

By Amy Macavinta, Staff Writer

The Herald Journal
A former Rich High School teacher pleaded guilty last week to sexually assaulting a female student more than 20 years ago.

Rich County Sheriff Dale Stacey said the alleged victim came forward last year with numerous allegations against Michael L. Williamson, 60, saying she was assaulted when she attended the rural high school in 1994.

Court records say she was under the age of 14 when the assault took place.

“She waited a long time to report it, but when she did, it led to two counts of child sex abuse that he pleaded guilty to,” Stacey said.

No additional victims have come forward since the charges were filed, and Stacey said at this time they believe there is no cause for concern that there might have been more.

Williamson was charged in September 2015 with two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, a second-degree felony punishable by one to 15 years in prison on each count.

Stacey did not disclose the nature of the assault, but he said it reportedly occurred more than one time and that Williamson was not the only suspect.

However, after the investigation, the two charges filed against Williamson were the ones the Rich County Attorney’s Office felt were appropriate.

Rich School District Superintendent Dale Lamborn said Williamson retired from the district before criminal charges were filed.

According to court records, Williamson pleaded guilty to one count as charged and to the second count, which was amended to an attempted assault, a third-degree felony.

While prosecutors will be speaking at the time of sentencing, they have agreed that they will not ask for a specific jail or prison sentence in this case.

The date of sentencing has not been set at this time.