AMERICAN FORK — The next step for former fifth- and sixth-grade teacher Brent Whitlock, who pleaded guilty earlier this week to child sex abuse, is yet another investigation.

And this one is expected to play strongly in determining his sentencing on June 10.

After a two-month police investigation, the 45-year-old former Shelley Elementary School teacher pleaded guilty Monday to one count of sexual abuse of a child, from 1994, and to a similar charge for a 1998 crime. The 23-year teaching veteran had accepted a plea deal agreed to by county prosecutors where they won’t recommend prison as part of his sentence.

Fourth District Judge Lynn Davis accepted Whitlock’s plea to the two second-degree felonies, which carry a 1-15 year sentence each.

Then Davis ordered Whitlock to undergo a pre-sentencing investigation to be conducted by state adult probation and parole representatives.

Whitlock signed a pre-plea statement which speaks of his deal with prosecutors.

“The state will not recommend prison and will not oppose defendant’s request for probation,” he wrote.

Whitlock resigned Feb. 16 from his teaching post.

“He resigned before we were aware of any of these allegations,” said Susan Stone, Alpine School District assistant superintendent of personnel.

But since allegations came to light, the district has reported what it has learned to the department of the State Board of Education that controls teacher certification.

American Fork Police Sgt. Greg Ludlow investigated allegations going back as far as 1978, which were said to have ended in the fall of 2000.

“We interviewed 21 potential victims, however, many of the incidents occurred outside the statute of limitations,” Police Lt. Andrew Hale said, adding that an LDS bishop first reported allegations to police.

Whitlock cooperated with Ludlow and provided the names of possible victims and circumstances surrounding his involvement with them.

Police said besides being a teacher, Whitlock is a former baseball coach and told investigators he had met some of his victims at school or at city recreation programs.

Whitlock reportedly said the abuse occurred at the city recreation center or at his home in northwest American Fork.

After his cooperation with police, Whitlock was released on his own recognizance.

Pat Christian can be reached at 344-2556 or at pchristi@heraldextra.com.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page A8.