New charges: BYU professor engaged in 'ecclesiastical abuse' to sexually abuse 3 students

Former BYU professor Michael James Clay, 47, of Springville, is accused of sexually abusing three of his college students.

Brigham Younger College

A former BYU affiliate professor charged with sexually abusing a scholar now faces new legal fees after police say he engaged in "ecclesiastical abuse to perform his intercourse abuse" of two different college students who've now come ahead.

Michael James Clay, 47, is now charged with seven counts of forcible sexual abuse, a second-degree felony, involving three college students between 2017 and 2020. He had initially confronted solely two counts till the fees have been amended earlier this month.

The three alleged victims have been related to Clay by way of Brigham Younger College. He was their professor, a few of them helped him with analysis, they usually all interacted with him in one-on-one interactions that mirrored remedy classes, in response to police affidavits. Courtroom paperwork allege Clay discouraged at the least two of the the victims from visiting a licensed therapist.

Every alleged sufferer informed police that Clay would use faith to govern them, together with giving priesthood blessings to them or speaking to them about their non secular alignment, the charging paperwork state.

He additionally used his place as an affiliate professor and his capability to attach them to future jobs to persuade them to proceed visiting with him or not discuss to others about their interactions, in response to the fees.

After legal fees have been first filed in opposition to him in June of 2020, "a number of witnesses have come ahead with tales of (Clay) threatening them with lack of letters of advice and internships in the event that they gave him a nasty scholar analysis or reported any dangerous habits. One other professor confused the facility (Clay) had over his college students because of his sole management of the academic program he oversaw and his leverage over college students who wished internships or letters of advice," court docket paperwork say.

Clay was head of City and Regional Planning within the Geography Division at BYU. On the time the primary fees have been filed in opposition to him, a BYU spokeswoman mentioned he had not labored on the college since mid-April 2020.

Police say one of many victims whose interactions with Clay led to the brand new fees disclosed private issues to him, after which she started assembly with him in his workplace just a few instances every week.

The professor would greet the sufferer with hugs, which turned progressively longer and ultimately led to him "transferring his arms down her again, and fondling her buttocks," in response to the charging paperwork, which additionally allege that he held meditation classes the place he would have the scholar sit on his lap, straddling him, whereas he sat on the ground.

The alleged sufferer informed police that "though she didn't need to take part with this touching, she was afraid of refusing" as a result of Clay was her boss and professor, and her progress in her area of research was at his "sole discretion."

This lady met the professor in 2017 and continued to go to him just a few instances every week till March 2020 when their interactions stopped as a result of coronavirus, the charging paperwork say.

A 3rd alleged sufferer is a former scholar who labored with Clay as an intern and an worker at his non-public agency in 2018 and 2019. Clay "manipulated" her into having "counseling classes" with him, saying he had "single-handedly put collectively the damaged items of many women and that if she wished to really feel Heavenly Father's love once more, she would want to come back and discuss to him in his workplace," BYU and Provo police wrote within the fees.

Police say she informed the same story about counseling classes turning into bodily contact, including that Clay would hug her after which go away his arms on her buttocks.

Charging paperwork allege that he requested her "extremely private questions, most of which have been sexual in nature," slid his sofa in entrance of his workplace door and had her straddle him, then "touched her in locations that no professor ever ought to." She additionally informed police he informed her to put on leggings the following time "in order that they might have a greater connection."

The lady mentioned that she was not courageous sufficient to ask him to cease, though she was "disgusted" by his actions, the fees state.

Investigators say Clay engaged in "ecclesiastical abuse to perform his sexual abuse" of the girl by often sending her non secular quotes from church leaders, talking often about spiritual issues and convincing her to "pledge obedience to him," regardless of her objections, in response to the fees. Clay can be accused of telling her that the three fundamental influences in her life are her father, her Heavenly Father and her husband. However as a result of she did not have a husband, "she was out of stability" and he may "partially fill that position so she may get again into stability."

Police mentioned Clay informed the primary sufferer that he felt impressed by God to have interaction in bodily contact along with her, and led her to imagine that she couldn't flip him down.