Pre-trial hearing for Los Banos teacher, girlfriend sex-crimes case delayed

The pre-trial hearings for a Los Banos teacher and his substitute teacher girlfriend charged with having sex with minors have been delayed to June 22.

Gary A. Bettencourt, 41, and 22-year-old Devyn M. Egan have pleaded not guilty to having sex with teenage students.

Judge Mark Bacciarini, who took over proceedings, granted the extension at the request of the lawyers working the case, who said they need additional time to collect evidence.

Bettencourt and Egan attended their pre-preliminary hearing Wednesday afternoon at Robert M. Falasco Justice Center in Los Banos.

Bettencourt, an English teacher at Pacheco High School, has been on administrative leave since September when the allegations first came to light. He is charged with 13 felonies, including unlawful sexual intercourse, oral copulation with a minor and lewd acts upon a child.

Egan is a former substitute teacher in Stanislaus County. She is charged with six similar felonies. District officials have said Egan won’t be used as a substitute teacher pending the outcome of the criminal case.

This story was originally published May 18, 2016 at 5:37 PM with the headline "Pre-trial hearing for Los Banos teacher, girlfriend sex-crimes case delayed."