NEWS

Former Butte Central band director charged with rape

The Associated Press

HAMILTON (AP) – The former Butte Central High School band director is charged with providing alcohol to female students at a state basketball tournament in Hamilton earlier this month and sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl.

Law enforcement officers in Butte arrested 27-year-old Scott Yorke Thursday on a Ravalli County warrant charging him with sexual intercourse without consent, sexual assault and three counts of felony criminal endangerment. He also faces six counts each of endangering the welfare of children and unlawful transactions.

Yorke made an initial court appearance Thursday.

Court records say Butte Central administration reported to Butte police that Yorke had provided alcohol to students and when left alone with one girl, sexually assaulted her.

Investigators say Yorke told them he had no memory of “doing anything to her.”

Yorke resigned from Butte Central on March 10.