Honk News (Los Angeles, CA) – An elementary school worker, aged 32, in Orange County, has been charged with sexual assault following allegations of a “dating relationship” with a 16-year-old female high school student, officials revealed on Tuesday.
On February 4, at approximately 7:30 a.m., Santa Ana Police Department officers arrived at the intersection of Westwood Avenue and Riveria Drive following reports of potential sexual activity taking place within a parked vehicle.
“Upon arrival, officers found the vehicle in question, which had a male and a female in the backseat,” SAPD stated in a release shared on social media.
Authorities discovered that the 16-year-old girl attended Foothill High School, while the individual now recognized as Mariano Hernandez served as a behavior interventionist at Benson Elementary. The schools are located in the Tustin Unified School District.
Read More – Michigan Mother Abandoned Son on Beach; Sentenced to Prison after Toddler Nearly Drowned in Ocean in Florida
Authorities reported that the individual involved and Hernandez acknowledged their meeting at Foothill High School and confirmed they had been in a romantic relationship for several weeks.
A 32-year-old individual was taken into custody and charged with multiple offenses related to sexual assault at the Santa Ana Jail.
Given the seriousness of the offenses, investigators suspect there could be more victims of Hernandez. They have shared his image, urging anyone with further details about this case or who may have suffered to contact law enforcement.