Ex-Phoenix elementary teacher gets 35 years in sex crime

An elementary school teacher was sentenced to 35 years in prison and lifetime probation Tuesday for engaging in sexual conduct with two 14-year-old girls who were his students.

Carlos Borja, 42, previously pleaded guilty to sexual conduct with a minor, child molestation and sexual abuse before Superior Court Judge Sherry Stephens handed down his sentence Tuesday morning in downtown Phoenix.

Borja, who taught at the Morris K. Udall School near 37th Avenue and Roosevelt Street, admitted to having sex with one of the 14-year-old victims twice during the 2012-2013 school year in his classroom, according to court documents.

The victim reportedly admitted to having been in a relationship with Borja her 8th grade year, police said.



The second 14-year-old victim reported Borja inappropriately touched her on multiple occas ions during the same school year, police said.

Borja's family spoke in court Tuesday and told how he was the rock of his family including a daughter and a niece who talked about the impact Borja made on the local track community.