81-year-old substitute teacher arrested after caught by student performing lewd act

SALT LAKE CITY — A substitute teacher was arrested on Saturday after police say he was caught performing a lewd act within Clayton Middle School.

Brent Weisberg with Salt Lake City Police Department said Morris Richard Saunders, 81, was caught masturbating in the school by a student.

“Salt Lake City Police Department received information that a student reportedly witnessed a substitute teacher, later identified as Mr. Saunders, masturbating inside an empty room within the school on March 18, 2025, during normal school hours,” Weisberg said in a news release.

Saunders was arrested with a single charge of lewdness involving a child, according to Weisberg.

Clayton Middle School Principal Kate Arch emailed families of students about the incident, explaining how the incident was quickly investigated and all necessary actions were taken.

“On learning of the incident, I immediately investigated and then contacted the parents of the student involved, the district’s Human Resource Services department, the Salt Lake City Police Department, and the Utah Division of Child and Family Services,” the email stated. “At the request of police, we delayed sharing information with the school community until now. Please know we acted immediately and have cooperated with the police at every step.”

Arch also added that Saunders is no longer employed with the Salt Lake City School District.

“We are distressed that something like this happened on our campus and understand our families will feel similarly Clayton Middle School and Salt Lake City School District have provided support to the student and their family,” Arch said.

Weisberg said the incident is being investigated by the Special Victims Unit, and a search warrant has been executed with the help of the SLCPD Violent Criminal Apprehension Team. 

Weisberg also said the SLCPD School Resource Officers are assisting with the investigation.

“Investigators have received cooperation from the Salt Lake City School District and Clayton Middle School, which is where the alleged incident occurred,” Weisberg said.

Related:

Registered sex offender arrested for public lewdness at park, police say

Alleged University of Utah stalker arrested