Troy Allan Hopper was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty last week to first-degree sexual abuse.
Sweet Home Police Department detectives arrested Hopper, a teacher’s assistant at Hawthorne Elementary School, on April 23.
Detectives opened an investigation of Hopper, 38, on March 6 after receiving a complaint that Hopper had allegedly had sexual contact with several grade-school students between 1997 and 2000, according to Police Chief Bob Burford. The victims, now adults, attended Hawthorne Elementary School at the time.
Hopper was charged in connection with one victim because of the elapsed time and statute of limitations.
That incident did not occur on school property, according to Burford.
Hopper was placed on administrative leave from School District 55 in April after the district learned that the charges were pending.
Hopper pleaded guilty on Sept. 7. He was sentenced on Friday in Judge Glen Baisinger’s court.
Hopper also is required to register as a sex offender and will serve 10 years of post-prison supervision. He was fined $94.