The Yavapai County Attorney’s Office announced on Tuesday, Oct. 27, that Chester Clay Cox, 31, of Cottonwood, a former teacher at Dr. Daniel Bright Elementary School, pleaded guilty to 15 sex crimes, including sexual conduct with a minor under the age of 15, child molestation, multiple counts of sexual exploitation of a minor under the age of 15 and multiple counts of surreptitious photographing or videotaping.
The investigation began in June when a parent of a now-18-year old man disclosed to a Yavapai County Sheriff’s deputy at her church that her son had been molested by an adult male when he was 11 to 12 years old. Although Cox was a teacher at DDB, the victim was not one of his students.
“During the investigation, evidence corroborating the molestation claims was obtained and YCSO also received a tip from a former student that Cox may have used a hidden camera at the school to record students while they changed clothes for athletic events,” YCAO stated. “YCSO quickly discovered multiple images and videos on Cox’s cell phone of students getting dressed and undressed, as well as using the restroom. Several recording devices, including a digital camera with tape and an antenna, were located during a search of Cox’s car.”
Cox will be sentenced to 50 years in prison, without any possibility of early release for good behavior, according to the terms of the plea agreement.
When Cox’s prison sentence is completed, he will be required to be placed on lifetime sex offender probation and be a registered sex offender.
Sedona-Oak Creek School District Superintendent Tom Swaninger said SOCSD hasn’t received any allegations of abuse occurring in Sedona during Cox’s employment there as a special education teacher from 2017 to 2018.
Sentencing is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 23, at 4 p.m. before Yavapai County Superior Court Judge Michael Bluff.
