Soledad teacher accused of sending student inappropriate texts pleads not guilty

A 30-year-old Soledad Unified High School teacher accused of inappropriate contact with a minor pleaded not guilty in Monterey County Superior Court Tuesday.

Jacob Browne, a high school biology teacher, was arrested last month after a teenage girl’s parents notified police of inappropriate text messages allegedly exchanged between Browne and their daughter.

Browne is charged with annoying or molesting a child under the age of 18, contacting a child for the purpose of sexual contact and possessing child pornography.

Browne pleaded not guilty to all charges and is slated for a preliminary hearing on May 21. He was ordered not to have contact with the victim or other minors under 18, with the exception of his own children. His bail was increased to $50,000 after prosecutors added the child pornography charge. They say child pornography was discovered in his possession after his arrest.