Former Butte Central band director charged with rape

HAMILTON (AP) — The former Butte Central music teacher and band director — who also taught on the Hi-Line — is charged with providing alcohol to female students at a state basketball tournament in Hamilton earlier this month and sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl.

Law enforcement officers in Butte arrested 26-year-old Scott Yorke Thursday on a Ravalli County warrant charging him with sexual intercourse without consent, sexual assault and three counts of felony criminal endangerment. He also faces six counts each of endangering the welfare of children and unlawful transactions.

Yorke made an initial court appearance Thursday.

Court records say Butte Central administration reported to Butte police that Yorke had provided alcohol to students and, when left alone with one girl, sexually assaulted her.

Investigators say Yorke told them he had no memory of "doing anything to her."

Yorke resigned from Butte Central on March 10.

He was hired as the music director for Chester/Joplin-Inverness Public Schools in 2012, and worked there for two years before getting hired on at Butte Central last fall.