Former Hilltop Baptist Teacher Pleads Not Guilty To Sex Assault

A former Hilltop Baptist School teacher has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault charges.

Terah Rawlings is accused of having sexual relations with one of her students from 2007 to 2008.

In November, a grand jury indicted Rawlings and charged her with four counts of sexual assault on a child while in a position of trust, four counts of alleged pattern of the same crime, and one count of promoting obscenity.

On Thursday, she pleaded not guilty to those charges.

Friends of the victim were at the courthouse Thursday and spoke to KRDO NewsChannel 13. They say they are shocked at her plea and that they think the victim now lives out of state with his mother.

Former football coach, Dustin Sutton, told KRDO NewsChannel 13 that he had suspicions of the relationship and told his wife, Laurie Sutton, who also worked at the school. Laurie reported the crime to the school and says she was fired a month later.

Rawlings trial will continue before a jury on October 1st.

Rawlings’ father, Allen Knight, and her uncle, Senior Pastor Wayne Knight, were also indicted by the grand jury in November. Wayne Knight was arrested and charged with Failure to Report Child Abuse and Accessory to a Crime.

Allen Knight and former principal, Jan Ocvrik, were arrested and charged with Failure to Report Child Abuse or Neglect.