Former Aurora middle school teacher acknowledges sexually assaulting students

A former suburban Denver middle school teacher has acknowledged sexually assaulting multiple students over several years.

The Aurora Sentinel reports Brian Vasquez pleaded guilty Monday to three counts of sexual assault and one count each of sexual exploitation and attempted sexual exploitation. He faces at least 40 years in prison.

Police say that when they went to Prairie Middle School to question Vasquez, they were initially only investigating accusations from one girl who said she had exchanged inappropriate text messages with the teacher. But Vasquez immediately offered the names of four other students and said the relationships included sexual contact.

Vasquez, who was arrested in August, had been a social studies teacher at the school for seven years.

Three district administrators have been charged with failing to report the allegations.