The sentencing hearing for a former Butte Central High School band director took place in Hamilton yesterday, April 6th. Ravalli County Attorney Bill Fullbright describes the charges faced by Scott Yorke, who was accused of sexually assaulting a student last March during the Class A girls basketball tournament in Hamilton.

“The particular defendant was chaperoning pep band and cheerleaders while over here,” said Fullbright. “We charged him with providing alcohol to a group of five young ladies between 14 and 16 years of age. After isolating one of the girls, who just turned 16, he sexually assaulted her when she was extremely intoxicated.”

The victim of the sexual assault in the case gave an emotional testimony, describing the aftermath of the assault.

“She’s twice tried to commit suicide since the assault on her,” Fullbright said. “The ridicule, and being ostracized, that she suffered through both her peers and in the community. The defendant Mr. Yorke was a very popular band teacher and gregarious guy. The girls that reported this became subjects of a lot of ridicule, insinuation and so forth.”

According to Fullbright, Yorke has been sentenced to 20 years in Montana State Prison and there is no possibility of release during the first five years of that sentence. Yorke will never be allowed to teach in Montana after being convicted.

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