Former teacher changes plea in sexual assault case

HONOLULU (AP) — A former Honolulu girls’ school teacher pleaded guilty to seven counts of sexual assault.

Former Sacred Hearts Academy teacher William E. Plourde entered the plea Wednesday in state court. He was charged with having sex with a 15-year-old student. The teenager told investigators the incident occurred in June 2013.

Plourde on Aug. 7, 2013, called police and asked to turn himself in. Sacred Hearts Academy Head of School Betty White said school administrators that day confirmed a claim against him and fired him.

Plourde is scheduled to be sentenced in March.