DARLINGTON — Jesse Sturtz, a 23-year-old former Darlington High School gym teacher, faced Lafayette County Judge Duane Jorgenson for the final time in a court appearance on Friday, Oct. 21. Sturtz took his own life days later, according to local authorities. He was to report to jail Oct. 31.

Sturtz, a Darlington native, was charged in January for exposing himself to a child and 4th Degree Sexual Assault for having an inappropriate relationship with a student. He pleaded guilty to two felony charges and two misdemeanors. 

He was sentenced to six months in the Lafayette County Jail with Huber privileges, and three years of probation. He was supposed to receive sex offender treatment and other counseling recommended by his probation agent, as well as not having any contact with persons under age 18, with the exception of relatives. There was even an opportunity for expungement of his record. 

“Pursuant to Sec. 973.015, Wis. Stats., the record of the defendant may be expunged upon a successful completion of probation, and the court making a finding on the record that the person will benefit and society will not be harmed by this disposition,” court records showed.