Ex-BYU professor pleads no contest to sexual battery of 3 students

PROVO — A former BYU professor has pleaded no contest to reduced charges of sexual battery, a class A misdemeanor, accusing him of inappropriately touching three female students. Charging documents accused Michael James Clay, 48, of Springville, of engaging in "ecclesiastical abuse to accomplish his sex abuse." Police said Clay told one victim he had prayed about her and felt inspired by God to engage in physical contact with her, and led her to believe that she could not turn him down. In a statement supporting his plea, he said,...