Police have arrested a Chula Vista teacher on multiple charges of sexual misconduct involving a minor, according to a letter issued by the Sweetwater Union High School District on Thursday and obtained by NBC 7 San Diego.
The letter states that a teacher from Olympian High School was arrested at the campus on Magdalena Avenue on Monday afternoon by officers from the San Diego Police Department.
The teacher is facing eight felony charges, including several counts of misconduct involving a minor, the letter obtained by NBC 7 says. The sexual misconduct charges do not directly involve any Sweetwater District students, though further details were not immediately released.
The teacher was arraigned on the charges this week and bail was set at $2 million, according to the letter from the district. One district source told NBC 7 the suspect is special education teacher Loren McDonald, 37.
The San Diego County Sheriff's inmate log confirms McDonald is in custody at San Diego Central Jail on bail set at $2 million. His charges include a sex crime with a child 10 years old or younger and lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14. His booking information says he's scheduled to appear in court again on May 16.
The investigation is ongoing.
At this point, the letter says the Sweetwater Union High School District will not comment on the case or the specific charges linked to the teacher because it’s a personnel issue.
On Thursday, a district spokesperson confirmed the teacher's arrest to NBC 7 and said the district would not be commenting any further at this time.
The district's letter obtained by NBC 7 did say the accused teacher was immediately placed on leave. The school board will be given information on this case during a meeting on Monday, the letter says.
NBC 7 reached out to police for further details on this developing story. On Thursday afternoon, SDPD Lt. Chuck Kaye confirmed McDonald's arrest and the charges to NBC 7.
Lt. Kaye says McDonald's crimes had no connection to his place of employment.
McDonald's neighbors told NBC 7 that McDonald, a woman and some children recently moved into the neighborhood. One resident said he's concerned over the allegations.
Check back for updates.
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