Greenfield middle school teacher arrested for sexual misconduct
UPDATE: 12/10/2018 5:44 p.m.
A teacher at Vista Verde Middle School in Greenfield was arrested for sexual misconduct with a minor.
Greenfield Police responded to the 50 block of Walker Lane Friday night for a report of a suspicious car.
Police said 47-year-old Jerry Mares and an underage girl were found in the back of the vehicle.
Mares was arrested on charges of unlawful sexual intercourse with someone under the age of 18, and arranging to meet with someone under the age of 18 to engage in a lewd or lascivious act.
“This wasn’t forced,” Greenfield sergeant Christina Gunter said. “However as we know being a juvenile under 18, they’re not allowed to give consent and parents can withdraw that consent at any time.”
The girl’s parents did not give consent and are cooperating with the investigation.
The Greenfield Unified School district said the minor does not go to Vista Verde Middle School. The school district has put Mares on administrative leave.
KION spoke to the sister of one of the middle school teacher’s former students.
“My sister said he’s a great teacher you know, but apparently its not what he appeared to be,” Jazmin Araujo said.
Police said Mares does not have a sexual criminal past and he is not considered a dangerous threat.
“There’s not a stranger out there abducting or hurting our children,” Gunter said. “Sadly this is somebody known, which is just as hard especially in a small community like this.”
Mares is out on $135,000 bail and is due in court December 19.
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A teacher at Vista Verde Middle School in Greenfield was arrested for sexual misconduct with a minor.
Greenfield Police responded to the 50 block of Walker Lane Friday night for a report of a suspicious vehicle.
When they got there, they found 47-year-old Jerry Mares and an underage female.
During an investigation, officers say they found out that Mares was having a sexual relationship with the girl.
Mares was arrested and booked into the Monterey County Jail.
If you have any more information, you’re asked to call Greenfield Police at 831-674-5111.
