Soledad teacher arrested for having sex with student
A Soledad teacher is behind bars for crossing the line with a student.
“Taking a child’s trust and victimizing them is something that we don’t ever want to see again,” said Soledad Unified School District Superintendent Rupi Boyd.
Greenfield Police seized Soledad High School teacher Alexander Luna Salazar’s work issued computer, cell phone, text messages and other forms of communication. Police accuse Salazar of having sex with one of his students.
“The teacher had in fact developed an inappropriate relationship with underage minor,” said Greenfield Police Commander Gregory Allen.
Police said the English teacher picked up the 17-year-old student from Soledad last Saturday morning in his private vehicle and drove her to his house in Greenfield.
“It’s at that time that they had inappropriate sexual intercourse or unlawful sex with a minor,” said Allen.
The 30-year-old had been teaching at Soledad High School for about 10 months. At this point, authorities say they do not know the extent of relationship or how long it had been going on.
“She was infatuated with the teacher, she’s a young lady, easily influenced,” said Boyd.
District officials said after Soledad High School students caught wind of the story, they told the principal Thursday and the district began an investigation right away.
“I am very proud of the fact that students brought this to our attention, it takes a lot of bravery,” said Boyd. “They had the best intentions to make sure we don’t further victimize the student.”
The district told KION they never had any complaints about Salazar, nor any suspicion. An extensive background check was conducted prior to him being hired.
“When people want to victimize children they find ways to do that,” said Boyd. “We can’t prevent every single thing but we do our darnest.”
Officials say parents can help their kids avoid inappropriate relationships by keeping a close eye on them. Monitor their child’s social media accounts and the nature of their text messages.
“Setting perimeters for your students,” said Allen.
The teacher has been charged with unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor student.
As for the student, school officials said she did go to school Friday and is being offered counseling.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
OnThursday,May5,2016TheGreenfieldPoliceDepartmentreceivedinformationthataSoledadHigh
Schoolteacher,whoresidesintheCityofGreenfield,mayhavehadunlawfulsexualwithanunder?agedSoledadHighSchoolstudent.PoliceimmediatelyconductedaninvestigationanditwasdeterminedthattheSoledadHighSchoolmaleteacher,developedaninappropriaterelationshipwiththefemalestudent.PolicedeterminedthattheteacherarrangedtopickupthestudentonaSaturdayfromtheCityofSoledadinhispersonalvehicleanddrivehertohisresidenceinGreenfieldwherehehadunlawfulsexualintercoursewiththeminorstudent.
Themaleteacher,AlexanderLunaSalazar,30yearsofage,hadbeenateacheratSoledadHighSchoolforapproximately10months.SalazarwasarrestedbytheGreenfieldPoliceDepartmentandchargedwithUnlawfulSexualIntercoursewithaminor,261.5(C)oftheCaliforniapenalcode.Severalitemsofevidencewereceased,includingSalazar’swork?issuedcomputer,cellsphonesandcopiesoftextmessagesandothercommunications.SoledadSchoolDistrictSuperintendentRupiBoydimmediatelyinitiatedaseparateadministrativeinvestigationofSalazar’sconductindependentoftheGreenfieldPoliceDepartment’scriminalinvestigation.SalazarhasresignedfromhispositionasaSoledadHighSchoolteacher.Assistance,supportandcounselingarebeingprovidedtoSoledadHighSchoolstudentsandstaff.
TheGreenfieldPoliceDepartmentwishestoacknowledgetheassistanceoftheSoledadPoliceDepartmentandthecooperationoftheSoledadSchoolDistrictofficials.
Thisinvestigationisongoing.AnyonewithinformationaboutthiscrimeshouldcontactGreenfieldPolice
OfficersMustafaYasinorOfficerArmandoMendozaat(831)324?5395or(831)674?5111.
