High school teacher in Riverside arrested on suspicion of improperly touching, texting students

Riverside police arrested a high school teacher Wednesday, April 10, on suspicion of improperly texting and touching underage students.

In February, a minor and student at John W. North High School told school authorities about an inappropriate text she had received from one of her teachers, according to a news release from the Riverside Police Department. It said school officials alerted police and an investigation by the agency’s Sexual Assault – Child Abuse Unit led to the discovery of 10 other victims who said they had been sent similar messages from the same suspect. Some of those students also reported unwanted touching by the teacher.

He was later identified as Frank Garcia, 49, of Fontana, and arrested in Pasadena at about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on suspicion of 11 counts of annoying or molesting a child under the age of 18, according to inmate records. He was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside at about 8 p.m., and held in lieu of $55,000 bail.

“We are shocked and disappointed by these allegations made against an RUSD staff member” the Riverside Unified School District said in statement on Wednesday. “When district officials first learned of the allegations, Mr. Garcia was immediately placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation, and has not been allowed back to the school since.”

Police said they worked closely with the school administration and the school resource officer on the investigation.

Police arrested Frank Garcia, 49, of Fontana, and booked him on suspicion of 11 counts of annoying or molesting a child under the age of 18 on Wednesday, April 10. Authorities named the John W. North High School teacher as a suspect after a student reported an inappropriate text message she had received from Garcia in February. Subsequent investigation led to the discovery of 10 other possible victims. (Photo courtesy of the Riverside Police Department)

Garcia previously taught at University Heights Middle School, and had been in contact with other minors through his involvement in school clubs, according to the police department’s release. It said the suspect had also worked as a teacher and tutor for students with special needs in the past.

Investigators believe Garcia may have other victims. Anyone with information that might link Garcia to other possible crimes was asked to contact either the Riverside Police Department’s John W. North High School Resource Officer, Nick Cantino, at 951-826-5638 / ncantino@riversideca.gov, or Detective Paul Miranda at 951-353-7945 / pmiranda@riversideca.gov.

Anonymous tips can also be left by sending an email to rpdtips@riversideca.gov.

Source link