| For Immediate Release Case # 12HF1197
May 3, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami
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FORMER TEACHER ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF MOLESTING TWO STUDENTS AND POSSESSING GRAPHIC CHILD PORNOGRAPHY
NEWPORT BEACH – A former teacher has been arrested on charges of molesting two female students, ages 13 and 15, and possessing graphic child pornography depicting young girls. Alex Bassinne, 50, Newport Beach, is charged with one felony count each of lewd acts upon a child under 14, lewd acts upon a child, and possession and control of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of nine years and four months in state prison. The defendant was arrested today by the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) and posted $100,000 bail. He is expected to be arraigned June 15, 2012, at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach. The time and Department are to be determined.
At the time of the sexual assaults, Bassinne is accused of being a teacher with the Santa Ana Unified School District who had worked at Santa Ana High School and Raymond A. Villa Fundamental Intermediate School. During this time, the defendant is accused of making inappropriate sexual comments and leering at students.
On Feb. 15, 2009, the defendant is accused of molesting 15-year-old Jane Doe #2 by touching her buttocks during a class trip. Between Nov. 1, 2010, and Nov. 4, 2010, Bassinne is accused of looking down the shirt of 13-year-old Jane Doe #1. When Jane Doe #1 attempted to move her shirt to stop him, the defendant is accused of grabbing the victim’s shirt and positioning it so that he could continue looking down it.
In 2011, the defendant is accused of moving with his family from a home in Laguna Niguel to a home in Newport Beach and leaving several items of furniture behind, including a desk. The defendant is accused of leaving a disc in the desk containing images of graphic child pornography depicting girls, approximately 10 to 12 years old. In April 2011, someone discovered the disc and turned it over to law enforcement authorities.
NBPD subsequently searched the defendant’s Newport Beach home. In this home, the defendant is accused of being in possession of additional child pornography similar in nature to that found in the Laguna Niguel home. NBPD investigated the case and determined that the defendant had been a teacher. NBPD worked with the Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department (SAUSDPD) to investigate any possible victims and discovered the sexual assaults against Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2.
Anyone with additional information or who believes they may have been a victim is encouraged to contact NBPD Detective David Syvock at (949) 644-3771, SAUSDPD Sergeant Manuel Chavez at (714) 558-5739, or Supervising District Attorney Investigator Lou Gutierrez at (714) 347-8794.
Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.
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