| For Immediate Release Case # TBA February 24, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
LAW ENFORCEMENT SEEKS PUBLIC’S HELP IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL VICTIMS OF SCHOOL ENGLISH TEACHER CHARGED WITH LEWD ACTS WITH 14-YEAR-OLD STUDENT
SANTA ANA – Law enforcement is seeking the public’s help identifying potential additional victims of a teacher who was charged today with inappropriately kissing and hugging one of his 14-year-old female students. Joshua Alexander Evans, 32, Fullerton, is charged with two felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts upon a child between the age of 14 or 15. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of three years and eight months in state prison and mandatory lifetime registration as a sex offender. The defendant is being held on $100,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Monday Feb. 27, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. in Department CJ-1, Central Jail, Santa Ana.
Between December 2011 and January 2012, while an English teacher at El Rancho Charter School in Anaheim Hills, Evans is accused of developing a relationship with one of his students, 14-year-old Jane Doe. He is accused of grooming the victim by sending her texts, emails, and playing a game with her over the cell phone. On at least three different occasions, Evans is accused of meeting Jane Doe at another student’s home. On two of those occasions, Evans is accused of kissing Jane Doe on the mouth and embracing her.
Jane Doe’s mother discovered the assault and reported the crime to the school, who contacted the Anaheim Police Department (APD). APD investigated the case and arrested Evans in Fullerton yesterday, Feb. 23, 2012.
California Penal Code section 288(c)(1) states that lewd and lascivious acts upon a child is charged when touching a minor with the intent of arousing, appealing to, and gratifying the lust, passions, and sexual desires of the defendant and the child.
If convicted, Evans’ lifetime registration as a sex offender would bar him from entering County recreational areas and City parks which have passed the Sex Offender Ordinance. Visit www.orangecountyda.com to read the prior press releases on the County’s Sex Offender Ordinance as well as the ten other cities that have enacted the Child Safety Zone Ordinance.
The investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with additional information or who believes they have been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Lou Gutierrez at (714) 347-8794 or Detective Joe Atkinson at (714) 765-1487.
Deputy District Attorney Jess Rodriguez of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.
###