SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - A San Diego High School special needs teacher was arrested on suspicion of having sex with a teenage student, San Diego Police said Monday.
The alleged victim’s mother called the department May 1 after discovering inappropriate text messages from 48-year-old Juan Carlos Herrera on her daughter’s phone, investigators said.
Sex Crimes Detectives said Herrera began the sexual relationship with the girl when she was 15 years old. The girl’s current age was not disclosed by police.
Herrera was taken into custody May 5 on charges including child luring and unlawful sex with a minor.
San Diego High School sent a letter to families.
Dear Parent/Guardian: At San Diego High School, our first priority is to provide a safe and secure learning environment for your students. We also believe in communicating openly with our students, parents, and staff about incidents that affect our campus. Following an investigation by the San Diego Police Department, special education teacher Juan Carlos Herrera was arrested yesterday on charges that include lewd and lascivious acts with a teenage student. The San Diego Unified School District and its police department are assisting in the investigation. If you have any concerns about your student’s interaction with this teacher, please contact the school immediately. Please rest assured that we are doing everything possible to continue our focus on your student’s education while supporting them during this difficult situation. I will be visiting the teacher's classes to speak with the students and let them know that learning will not be disrupted. There is already an experienced substitute teacher that has been working in the affected classes. Our school counselors and I will be monitoring the situation at San Diego High carefully over the next few days. If needed, we can receive additional support from the district's Counseling and Guidance Department. Additionally, please know that we continue to work with all of the appropriate authorities to ensure the safety of your child. If you have any concerns, please contact me at fdelcarmen@sandi.net or call the district’s Quality Assurance at 619-725-7211, SDPD’s Sex Crimes Unit at (619) 531-2210, or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477.
Francisca Del Carmen-Aguilar, Principal, San Diego High School
