A former Trinity Valley School piano teacher was sentenced to 10 years in prison after he indecently exposed himself to several young students.
The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Trent Muse, pleaded guilty to five charges of indecency with a child by exposure, which is a third-degree felony in Texas. The crime was committed while he was teaching at Trinity Valley School, which serves students from pre-K through 12th grade.
Former Piano Teacher Sentenced to Prison
A Tarrant County grand jury indicted Muse in 2024, and court records showed that the incidents in which he exposed himself to children happened in April 2023. That was around the time when the suspect was fired from the school.
The parents of the victims, who requested to stay anonymous, gave testimonies in front of the defendant after his sentencing on Wednesday. The mother of a victim said that the trauma left by the incident has been life-altering and all-consuming for her and her family, according to Kera News.
She added that every time they drive to school, hear a piano, or see their daughter lash out or become withdrawn, they are reminded of the horrible predator and the trauma that he left on their child.
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The mother of another victim noted that her daughter was only nine years old when Muse's abuse started. Through tears, she said that her child is now known as "one of the piano victims," adding she now has trouble sleeping and trusting adults, particularly male teachers.
The families of the victims said that the former piano teacher shattered their trust, with one mother saying that her child started having nightmares about being kidnapped by him or a "nice man," Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.
Indecent Exposure to Young Students
The father of one of the victims also praised his daughter and the other kids for their bravery in coming forward to speak about the experiences they had with Muse. He knows that they will most likely struggle with the after-effects of what the defendant did to them for the rest of their lives.
He said that Muse had shown no "genuine remorse" for his actions and was only stopped by the bravery of his victims. The defendant's attorney, Monroe Solomon III, said that he believed the sentence against his client was "fair and reasonable based on the circumstances."
The parents of the victims also alleged that the school failed in protecting its students due to negligence that allowed more than a dozen young girls to become traumatized by Muse. A lawsuit filed in March revealed that the incident involved 16 girls who ranged in age from six to 11 at the time of the abuse, as per CBS News.
