Ex-drama coach heads to jail in sex case

VIRGINIA CITY - A former Virginia City High School teacher was sentenced to one year in jail and sex offender registration for 15 years Friday in the molestation of a student in 1996.

William Beeson, 59, appeared in Storey County District Court with his attorney John Arrascada on Friday morning.

In August, Beeson pleaded guilty to a charge of gross misdemeanor solicitation of a minor to engage in infamous crimes against nature. In exchange for the plea, charges of felony sexual assault and gross misdemeanor unlawful contact with a child were dismissed.

In avoiding a trial, Beeson also avoided possibly damning testimony from three other young men who alleged the former drama coach also assaulted them in the 1990s.

Storey County Assistant District Attorney Laura Grant said the decision to offer the plea bargain came after consulting with the victim.

"He'd been living with this since he was younger and said, 'I would just like this to go away,'" said Grant.

Arrascada unsuccessfully argued to Judge Todd Russell that sentencing the long-time Virginia City resident to probation would better serve the community.

"From a practical standpoint, it is in the interest of all to place Bill Beeson on probation," Arrascada said. He said Russell should look at probation as a way to keep tabs on Beeson, and force him to attend therapy and counseling as opposed to having him serve one year in jail and being done with supervision.

"This is Mr. Beeson's home. He will live the rest of his days here with the proverbial Scarlet Letter because of this," said Arrascada.

The defense attorney noted more than 80 people wanted to write letters in support of Beeson to the judge. He said if granted probation, Beeson's supporters would help him. And his detractors would also keep an eye on him.

"In this small community they are going to be watching his every step," he said.

And he hinted that his client was innocent of the allegations.

"There are times people enter guilty pleas as a manner of limiting exposure," said Arrascada. "He admits he maybe became too friendly and familiar with students."

He also noted that Beeson passed a polygraph examination.

Grant disputed the polygraph results, saying she had submitted the test to two independent examiners who both read the results as failures.

"(The victim) has had to go into therapy and try to get past the demons of his youth - the demons of his youth being Bill Beeson," said Grant.

She said when Beeson entered a guilty plea, he said the reason for the plea deal was because he was guilty.

"Now he totally denies it," she said. "Why should the court grant Mr. Beeson, who now denies doing anything wrong, probation?"

When given a chance to speak, Beeson said nothing about the charges.

"I respectfully ask that I be given probation. I will strictly follow the terms and conditions," he said.

"You've done some good things in this community," acknowledged Judge Russell, in sentencing Beeson to jail. "But I think you had a dramatic impact on the lives of a number of young men. I think you have to be accountable for all your actions."

Grant said the most important part of the plea deal is that Beeson has to register as a sex offender.

"We're satisfied with keeping him out of the schools at least," she said.

Beeson was given credit for serving six days in jail. He was immediately cuffed and led from the courtroom to begin serving his sentence in the Storey County Jail.

With good time credit, he could be released sometime in June.