Trial Set for Former West Palm Beach Teacher Accused in Sex Crimes

By Marc Freeman
Sun Sentinel
May 3, 2013

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/palm-beach/fl-stephen-budd-teacher-sex-crimes-20130503,0,5226731.story

Stephen Jerome Budd, 51, a former West Palm Beach private school teacher, is accused of sexually assaulting two 9-year-old students during the 2006-07 school year. Budd is scheduled to stand trial Sept. 23. He was arrested April 3 and charged with three counts of sexual battery on a person less than 12 years old, two counts of sexual performance by a child, and two counts of battery of a child, two counts of lewd or lascivious exhibition. (Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office / April 3, 2013)

A former West Palm Beach private school teacher accused of sexually assaulting two 9-year-old students during the 2006-07 school year will stand trial Sept. 23, Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Stephen Rapp ordered Friday.

Stephen Jerome Budd, 51, will stay in Palm Beach County Jail until the trial, unless the court receives a new request for bail for the former fourth-grade teacher at Rosarian Academy.

Defense attorney Jason Weiss withdrew his motion seeking bond at a hearing Friday, after conferring with his client and Assistant State Attorney Jessica Kahn. Weiss said he had just received more information concerning the charges and needed to examine it.

Rapp also alerted the attorneys that family members, including nieces, were former or current students at the school, but he wasn't aware of any connection with the case.

West Palm Beach police arrested Budd on April 3, and filed nine charges: three counts of sexual battery on a person less than 12 years old, two counts of sexual performance by a child, two counts of battery of a child, and two counts of lewd or lascivious exhibition.

An arrest report accused Budd of rewarding the student victims "Budd Bucks" or candy in exchange for sexual acts. The crimes happened numerous times in a classroom at the Catholic school, police said.

Police Chief Vincent Demasi has said there are probably more victims, and he urged them to contact authorities.

In the motion for bond, filed Wednesday, Weiss wrote that the allegations, "while serious and distasteful, are entirely uncorroborated by substantial and competent evidence."

"In addition to being a six-year-delayed report, there is a total absence of any physical, medical or scientific evidence to corroborate the allegations made," he wrote.

Weiss also described Budd as a respected teacher who most recently worked with adult students at South Tech Academy in Boynton Beach. Budd is divorced with three adult children and five grandchildren.

Budd has no criminal history and should be placed on house arrest with an ankle monitor and an order to have no contact with minors "to alleviate any potential concerns regarding the safety of the community," the now-withdrawn motion states.

mjfreeman@tribune.com, 561-243-6642 or Twitter @SSCourts