| For Immediate Release June 15th, 2005 |
Contact: | Mark Macaulay Media Relations Spokesperson (714) 347-8405 |
HIGH SCHOOL MUSIC TEACHER CHARGED WITH MOLESTING SIX FEMALE STUDENTS DURING SINGING LESSONS
Santa Ana – Marina High School music teacher, Victor Rodriguez, 49, of Huntington Beach, has been charged with two counts of a lewd act upon a child and four counts of child annoyance for victimizing six of his students. Rodriguez is accused of sexually assaulting six girls between the ages of 14-17 during one-on-one singing lessons at the school. If convicted on all counts, Rodriguez is facing 3 years 8 months in state prison and will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
On several occasions from February of 2003 to December 2004, Rodriguez held auditions/singing lessons in the music room. In each case, he is accused of bringing his victim into a separate closed room to assess her voice and putting his hands under the victims’ shirts and touching their breasts while pretending that he was showing them the location of their diaphragms. The school administration had formally warned Rodriguez in March of 2003 for using the so-called “diaphragm technique” and instructed him to never use it again.
Besides working at Marina High School, he has also volunteered at St. Bonaventure Church in Huntington Beach. Anyone who believes they may have been a victim of Rodriguez is encouraged to call Detective Cathy Meza of the Huntington Beach Police Department at 714-536-5970.
Rodriguez is out of custody after posting $50,000 bail. His arraignment was continued to July 15, 2005, in department W15 of the West Justice Center, 8141 13th Street, Westminster. Senior Deputy District Attorney Dan Hess has been assigned to prosecute the case.
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