MESA COUNTY, Colo. (KREX) - Ex-Palisade High band teacher Jeff Mason "is not the person who he portrays himself to be," said the mother of the former student who accused the educator of sexual harassment.
During Tuesday's sentence hearing, the mother said, Mason "was a teacher who abused a student and used his position and connections to gain her trust and develop an inappropriate relationship with a young woman. She was barely 18 years old when she remembers this starting."
The former educator previously entered a guilty plea on Sept. 19 to two counts of official misconduct. He was given a deferred sentence of four years which begins on the date of the plea entry. If Mason completes his sentence without issue, the convictions can be erased from his record.
Judge Matthew Barrett ordered Mason to be supervised by state probation for the deferred sentence period. The former teacher is also to complete 250 hours of community service and pay a $2,000 fine.
Mason is also under a protection order and cannot have contact with the former student. He also has to pay restitution to the family for attorney and court fees. The exact amount will be determined at a later date.
Barrett called Mason's actions "incredibly disturbing" and "inappropriate by all means."
Mason was originally arrested in November 2023 for sexually harassing a former student. He was accused of violating Title IX by giving the student unwanted hugs, visiting her home without her parents’ knowledge, buying her gifts and food, giving them rides in his car and lying in a hotel bed with his legs wrapped around the student during a school trip.
"It is highly concerning by this court that in any way, shape or form that this conduct would be minimized," Barrett said. "And whether or not it constitutes the crimes that you (Mason) plead guilty to is irrelevant because you plead guilty. What really matters is that you were her teacher, and she was your student, and you were doing these things."
Deputy District Attorney Heidi Bauer said the sentencing length wasn't as severe due to the victim's age as she was an adult at the time.
The former educator was allowed to address the judge prior to sentencing but declined to do so.
The defense argued Mason was an excellent, award-winning teacher, serving for 23 years to his students, the school and the community. Several former students also sent letters to Barrett in support of Mason.
But Mason "downplayed and lied about what he did to (his former student)," her mother said. "... No, your (Mason's) 23 years of experience does not matter in this case. It does not matter if you have 50 years of experience as one's experience is never an excuse to abuse another human being. Certificates, awards and letters from friends does not excuse your behavior of what you did."