Earlier this month, an Apple Valley man who is accused of having unlawful sexual contact with a 17-year-old girl pleaded not guilty to four felony charges against him.
According to the Murrieta Press-Enterprise, the 22-year-old man was a teacher at Granite Hills High School and the girl was a former student of his. The man taught a class in medical terminology and also ran an after-school program aimed at getting students interested in paramedic training.
The man was arrested Monday, Nov. 4 because deputies from the San Bernardino Sheriff's Department became concerned that he had had sexual contact with the girl. They did not say what led them to come to this conclusion. Authorities have also not commented extensively on the nature of the alleged relationship, such as when it reportedly began, how long it lasted or what sort of contact it evidently involved.
On Thursday, Nov. 7, the man was arraigned in a Victorville courtroom on three counts of illegal sexual conduct and one count of unlawful sexual intercourse. These charges fall in the legal category of " sex offenses". If the man is found guilty, he will face very substantial prison time. On top of that, he will be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life, which will severely curtail future living and employment prospects.
It is very important that this man, like all those accused of crimes, reacts to the charges against him with adequate seriousness and preparation. Taking criminal charges with a cavalier attitude is a very big mistake.
In our law office, which is near the Southwest Detention Center, we often work with clients from the Murrieta, Riverside, Lake Elsinore, Hemet, Wildomar, Menifee, Corona, Winchester, Perris, Banning and Temecula communities. If you or a loved one has been arrested please contact us immediately.