| For Immediate Release Case # 12HF0258
January 27, 2012 |
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
TEACHER CHARGED WITH UNLAWFUL SEX ACTS WITH 14-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AFTER SNEAKING HER PAST ROOMMATES
NEWPORT BEACH – A JSerra Catholic High School (JSerra) teacher has been charged with engaging in unlawful sex acts with a 14-year-old girl he met at the school. Ricardo Aldana, 37, is charged with seven felony counts of lewd acts on a child and faces a maximum sentence of seven years in state prison if convicted. Aldana is out of custody on $100,000 bail and is expected to be arraigned Monday, Jan. 30, 2012, at 8:30 a.m. Department H-2, Harbor Justice Center, Newport Beach.
At the time of the crime, Aldana was a Spanish teacher and boys’ soccer coach at JSerra in San Juan Capistrano. He is accused of meeting 13-year-old Jane Doe while she was a student at the school. He is accused of befriending the victim and gaining her trust.
In June 2011, after Jane Doe had turned 14 years old, Aldana is accused of inappropriately massaging Jane Doe’s shoulders over her clothes while they were alone in his classroom. He is accused of continuing to groom the victim by frequently exchanging text messages and speaking with her on the phone.
In September 2011, Aldana is accused of picking up Jane Doe in his vehicle near her home while the victim’s mother was out of town. He is accused of driving the victim to his Dana Point residence and sneaking her into his bedroom to avoid being seen by his roommates. Aldana is accused of engaging in substantial unlawful sex acts with Jane Doe. At approximately 4:00 a.m., Aldana is accused of dropping Jane Doe off at her home.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department began investigating this case after an out-of-state honors academic camp instructor became suspicious after overhearing statements by the victim to other students.
Anyone with additional information or who believes they’ve been a victim is encouraged to contact Supervising District Attorney Investigator Lou Gutierrez at (714) 347-8794.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Jana Hoffmann of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.
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