A former member of the faculty of Natrona County School District has admitted to sexually abusing a girl back in July 2016.The accused, Jason G. Waugaman, has pleaded guilty to third-degree sexual abuse of a minor in Natrona County District Court via video conference since he could not appear in person due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Waugaman accepted a plea agreement to serve six to twelve years in prison even though two second degree sexual abuse of a minor charges have been dropped.
Waugaman was 33-years-old and the victim was a teenager at the time the sexual abuse took place.
Waugaman did not admit to the crime in court although the court documents state he had sex with the minor. “The victim and I had an online sexual relationship,” Waugaman said. He also admitted to inappropriately touching the girl through her clothing.
The alleged abuse occurred in 2016 when the child was between the ages of 13and 15, according to an affidavit of probable cause. At the time of initial contact, Waugaman was a substitute teacher in the minors classroom when he began communicating with her on social media and continued making sexual comments.
The affidavit said Waugaman coerced the girl to sneak out of her home and meet him, then they drove to a nearby parking lot and had sex. The continued to have a sexual relationship and communicate via social media.
Last month detectives asked the girl if she would be willing to connect again with Waugaman and establish communication to continue the investigation and she showed them her texts that indicated Waugaman admitted to an inappropriate relationship by telling her he enjoyed their 2016 sexual encounter.
Weeks after his arrest, Waugaman was terminated from The Natrona County School District.
He was previously employed by the school district as a substitute teacher, a part-time teacher at Dean Morgan Junior High School, and a speech and debate activity sponsor at Kelly Walsh High School.
Waugaman remains free on bond pending his sentencing hearing.