A former teacher in Cheyenne County has been sentenced to 18 months jail for child abuse.

Former Leyton Public Schools educator Dana Jeppson was sentenced to nine months of jail for each of two negligent child abuse charges. According to court documents, Jeppson pleaded guilty to both charges and was sentenced to 18 months in jail.

According to court records, the Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office received a report in January that Jeppson had sent inappropriate messages to a minor in September 2020. Court documents indicate Jeppson taught at Leyton Public Schools from 2012 until 2017 and had the minor as a student at one point.

Jeppson told investigators in March that he had sent messages to the minor and told authorities he was "just trying to be funny" and "didn't mean to upset anyone," according to court documents.

Later in May 2021, another person came forward and told police that Jeppson inappropriately touched them when they were 15 on multiple occasions. The person also told authorities Jeppson has asked for sexual pictures and told them to "keep this between us," according to court records.