News

Former Monterey County teacher arrested for sexual misconduct with student

By Sergio Berrueta

January 7, 2025 6:43 PM

Published January 7, 2025 1:45 PM

WOODLAND, Calif. (KION-TV) -- A former North County High School teacher was arrested for having sexual misconduct with a student at Woodland High School in Woodland, California.

25-year-old Mika Yoneda was arrested after Monterey County's Sheriff's Office received a report from a former juvenile male student who had been a victim of sexual misconduct. Upon investigation from the Sheriff's Office, Yoneda was identified as the teacher in question.

Yoneda was a former teacher at North Monterey County High School in Castroville from 2022 to 2023. She since began working at Woodland High School thereafter.

During her time in Monterey County, Yoneda also worked as a private tutor alongside her role as a teacher.

Monterey County Sheriff-Coroner Tina Nieto spoke on the arrest speaking on how these moments in time can break the trust of not only students, but the parents.

"Our parents in our county have to be able to trust the school system," Nieto said. "They have to be able to trust teachers, educators. That the teachers and educators are going to protect their children. That's the expectation they have of us."

Yoneda is being held on a bail of $1.5 million. As the investigation continues, those who have any information or may have been a victim can call Sergeant Nicholas Kennedy at 831-755-3773.

Article Topic Follows: News

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Sergio Berrueta

Sergio Berrueta has been in the news for quite awhile going from studying print media to entering the realm of broadcast.

Originally from Bell Gardens, California, in Southeast Los Angeles. Berrueta started his professional news career in Eureka as a newscast producer for North Coast News (now The Northstate’s News) at KAEF ABC 23 in 2022. He pivoted a year later in 2022 going from behind-the-scenes to in front of the camera as a multimedia journalist for Redwood News Channel 3 (KIEM/KVIQ) also in Eureka.

Berrueta studied journalism at Humboldt State University (now Cal Poly Humboldt) earning his Bachelor’s Degree. Berrueta was a staff writer, page editor, social media manager and editor-in-chief of the university’s El Lenador, the only bilingual publication in all of Humboldt County.

Before moving to the North Coast, Berrueta had earned his Associate’s Degree at East Los Angeles College in 2019 after beginning his educational journey in 2012. He also was on staff for the ELAC’s publication, ELAC Campus News, having been a staff writer, page editor, and online editor.

Outside of news experience, Berrueta has also been in education as an AmeriCorps tutor in East Hollywood from 2017 to 2019 and served in a government role as a National Hometown Fellow for Lead for America with the City of Arcata in 2021.

When not focusing on news, Berrueta is an avid amateur cinephile having written about films in free time. He also writes poetry, attempting to get through a backlog of video games, enjoys visiting new places along the California Coast, and trying to keep up with the latest music and podcasts.

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