PONTIAC — The former Huron Valley Schools substitute teacher convicted on six counts of sexually assaulting elementary students has been sentenced to at least a decade in prison.
Timothy Daugherty was sentenced to a minimum of 10 years in prison on July 8 in front of Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Yasmine Poles. The maximum he could serve would be 15 years.
“The decision to give Timothy Daugherty a maximum sentence is appropriate and justified,” Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald said in an emailed statement. “As a teacher, he was in a position of trust. He abused that trust. I am grateful that the victims spoke up about this abuse. It’s not an easy thing to do. Their bravery allowed us to hold Daugherty accountable and protect kids from this predator.”
Defense Attorney Alexandra Giuliani said she had filed paperwork for an appeal on behalf of Daugherty immediately after sentencing was completed.
“The judge exceeded guidelines and sentenced him to the maximum she could,” Guiliani said. “Part of the appeal will be sentencing issues. You have to give adequate justification to exceed guidelines… I think the sentence was a little excessive.”
Daugherty was found guilty by a jury in May of six counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct involving a person under 13.
Allegations of Daugherty’s improper contact with minors at Spring Mills Elementary School were first reported to law enforcement in April 2024, and he was charged in September. Police at the time said Daugherty, 61, of White Lake, had “inappropriately touched” at least six students. Huron Valley Schools officials said they immediately suspended Daugherty as a substitute teacher in the district upon learning of the allegations.
Following Tuesday’s sentencing, Chris Desmond, Chief Appellate Attorney with Ven Johnson Law, said his firm would be filing a civil lawsuit “within the coming months” on behalf of 11 victims now that the criminal case has concluded. He said that besides Daugherty, defendants in the civil case will include persons associated with the Huron Valley Schools district.
“There were previous complaints about this individual and an investigation because of allegations of criminal sexual conduct,” Desmond said. “The evidence will show that he was a danger before he was placed in a position of trust over these children.”
Desmond expressed satisfaction with Tuesday’s criminal sentencing of Daugherty.
“We are very thankful the criminal justice system has worked for our clients,” he said. “This is a horrific case in which numerous girls were victimized as they were doing something they are required to do, go to school. We are grateful to the judge, the jury, everyone who has played a role so these girls can heal from the trauma that they have unfortunately had to endure.”
Contact reporter Susan Bromley at sbromley@hometownlife.com.
This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Former Huron Valley substitute teacher sentenced in sexual assault of 6 elementary students
Reporting by Susan Bromley, Hometownlife.com / Hometownlife.com
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