Southern California Choir Teacher Arrested for Sexual Conduct With 17-year-old Student; Police Sting Operation Leads to Charges
A choir instructor at a Southern California high school was hailed by police after allegedly agreeing to meet with a 17-year-old pupil to engage in sexual conduct.
According to the Santa Ana Police Department, officers responded to Santa Ana High School on Friday following a report of a student having an inappropriate relationship with a teacher.
When contacted, the teen, a senior at the school, revealed that he had been having sexual intercourse with his choir teacher, 37-year-old Yessenia Navarro Garcia, director of the Vocal Music Program at Santa Ana High School, for around six months.
“During the investigation, the victim texted Garcia to meet at a location in Santa Ana, and upon her arrival, she was taken into custody by officers,” the police stated. “Garcia admitted to all of the sexual acts that the victim reported.”
Garcia, an Orange native, has worked full-time as a choir teacher for around five years, according to authorities.
She was brought into the Santa Ana Jail on several sexual assault charges, and her bail was set at $100,000.
Detectives suspect there may be additional victims or witnesses to the crimes, and they urge anybody with information to contact Detective M. Tapia (714-245-8379) or Orange County Crime Stoppers (1-800-TIP-OCCS).
Garcia’s profile was still up on the Santa Ana High School choir website as of the time this article was published.
It states that in addition to her role as director of the SAHS Alumni Choir since 2017, she has worked at numerous other Southern California schools, including Raymond Cree Middle School in Palm Springs, El Sol Science and Arts Academy in Santa Ana, and Garden Grove Elementary School.
Reference: California teacher arranges to meet student for sex; gets arrested insteadÂ