A former Lovell High School teacher and coach was sentenced Sept. 3 in Park County on one felony count of taking indecent liberties with a minor child.


Troy S. Pittman, 33, of Lovell received a suspended three- to five-year sentence in the Wyoming State Penitentiary, provided he completes five years of supervised probation.


According to court affidavits, Pittman furnished pornography and persuaded several male students to take part in lewd sexual activities at a private residence.
Pittman hasn’t worked as a coach or teacher in Big Horn County School District No. 2 since his arrest last October, according to Superintendent Dan Coe.


Big Horn County and Prosecuting Attorney Georgia Antley Hunt, Deputy Park County Attorney Timothy Blatt, and Pittman’s attorney, John Worrall, negotiated the package deal, which included one pending count of the same charge being dismissed in each county in exchange for the guilty plea.


The Park County charges stem from incidents more than a decade ago, while the charges filed in Big Horn County stem from similar incidents last year.


State law forbids the court or its officers from releasing the identity of victims of sexual assault.


Hunt said that while Pittman’s suspended sentence may not seem like a harsh enough punishment, he is now required to register as a sex offender, which means he will be on the Wyoming State Division of Criminal Investigation registry for life. Registration as an offender means Pittman will not be allowed to teach or be employed in a position of trust with youth.


During the hearing, District Court Judge John Brackley said the plea agreement was appropriate, given the complications in prosecuting the case.


Pittman must also pay $225 in court costs and victim’s compensation fees, Hunt said.