Former Plumpton High School teacher Tyson Moon sentenced on sexual touching charges
A western Sydney drama teacher has been sentenced after pinning the student against table while kissing him inside the school’s performing arts space and sharing more than 1000 WhatsApp messages.
The nearly year-long saga of a former western Sydney high school teacher who had been found guilty for three counts of sexually touching a child under special care has come to an end.
Ex-Plumpton High School teacher, Tyson Moon, 26, appeared at Mt Druitt Local Court on Wednesday, where he was sentenced to a two-year community corrections order, after being found guilty for three counts of sexually touching a child under special care.
Back in November 2024, Moon had been charged by police and parents were informed via a letter sent from the school.
In the letter, the school said it had been made aware that a staff member had been charged by police with “child-related offences”.
“As soon as this matter was brought to its attention, the school followed all related departmental policies and procedures, including support for students,” the letter stated.
At the time, Moon was moved to a non-school work location by the Department of Education, who has since terminated his employment.
A spokesman for the department told this masthead Moon had been put on their “not to hire” list.
The inappropriate relationship started in the middle of last year, where Moon pulled the student aside and confessed his love to them.
Following this confession, the pair exchanged over 1000 WhatsApp messages, as Moon had gotten permission from the school to contact students via the app in case of an emergency.
Moon was supposed to block the students after the event, but he maintained contact with the victim on the app.
“I knew he shouldn’t have but I didn’t say anything because I was scared,” they said.
The court heard that on three separate occasions, Moon and the student were alone together when the kisses were exchanged.
One of them happened inside the high school’s CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts) staffroom, with the student stating Moon had him “pinned” against a desk when they kissed.
The victim said they shared multiple kisses and text messages, but they told the court they did not want to pursue a romantic relationship with Moon. The pair’s relationship lasted for a few months.
Throughout the court proceedings, Moon maintained a plea of not guilty to the charges.
Moon’s previous lawyer maintained his client was not disputing that the kisses between Moon and a student occurred on multiple occasions, but defending the suggestion they were of a sexual nature.
At one point, Moon told the student that their love was just “pure love”, and that they had to wait until the student was 18 before they could have “sexual relations”.
When handing down his Judgement on August 8 this year, Magistrate James Gibson agreed that Moon was “well aware that what he was doing was wrong”.
In court today, Moon’s new lawyer brought up how his client had been bullied growing up, the depression and other mental health issues he’s struggled with, and concedes that if “he had the maturity” then “maybe this offence would not have occurred”.
Mr Gibson sentenced Moon to a two-year community corrections order and an additional 200 hours of community service.
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Originally published as Former Plumpton High School teacher Tyson Moon sentenced on sexual touching charges
