A former headmaster at the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad will likely spend the rest of his life in prison for molesting a former cadet.
In June, jurors convicted Jeffrey Barton, 59, on six counts of forced sex acts with a minor.
Monday, a judge sentenced Barton to 48 years in prison for the crimes. He repeatedly molested a 9th-grade cadet between 1999 and 2001.
Barton was first arrested on Oct. 17, 2013. At that time, investigators said at least six former students of the Army and Navy Academy had accused him of sexual molestation.
Prosecutors alleged Barton had given his victims drug-laced brownies to incapacitate them prior to the sexual molestations. Barton’s baked goods became known around campus, according to prosecutors.
Barton was a longtime administrator of the Army and Navy Academy, working at the boarding school from 1995 to 2013.
The former cadet involved in the trail is now suing Barton and the school in a civil trial, set for March.
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His attorney says the Academy has not upgraded its hiring practices since the scandal broke.
"Without a doubt, kids are not safe at that school at this point in time; it's very important for parents to know that and understand that," said Vince Finaldi, the attorney representing the victim.
The Army and Navy Academy would not answer NBC 7 questions but released a statement saying that the circumstances of the trial have been challenging for the community.
"Mr. Barton's criminal acts against a former cadet took place 17 years ago while he was a teacher, coach, and summer programs director -- well before the current administration and Board of Trustees were in place. As we move forward, our commitment to the safety, health and well being of our cadets and employees continues to be unwavering," the statement read, in part.
Besides the school in Carlsbad, Barton has also worked at schools in Tennessee and South Carolina.
