High School teacher arrested in student sex charges
WHITTIER—A former high school history teacher at California High School was arrested by LASD deputies after allegedly having sex with a 17-year-old student. Months earlier, before his arrest, John Gilbert Orellano of Cypress had been forced to resign when school officials learned that the teacher had been sending illicit text messages to the same girl.
John Gilbert Orellano
According to an LASD press release, the relationship between Orellano and the victim began platonically two years previously when she was fifteen. Their relationship shifted in January of this year when Orellano began to send sexually explicit text messages to the unidentified victim. They began a sexual relationship shortly thereafter.
Orellano left California High School once the allegations came to light, and Whittier Union High School District officials launched a two day internal investigation, notifying authorities in process. Two months after Orellano’s accusations were revealed, and one month after the LASD launched an investigation of their own, Orellano was arrested on May 15th for Unlawful Sexual Intercourse with a minor.
Orellano was booked at the Norwalk Sheriff’s Station where he is being held on $240,000 bail. His arraignment is set for May 17th at the Norwalk Superior Court.
California High School. Orellano lost his job when his activities came to light
In a statement released on the WUHSD website, Superintendent Sandra Thorstenson assured parents of the district’s safety while promising full cooperation with authorites.
“We have developed a culture of trust in our schools and in our community,” said Thorstenson. “To have something like this happen on one of our campus is a blatant violation of that trust and we take that very seriously. In as much as this is a crime against a student—it is also a crime against the whole community and anything we can do to assist the DA moving forward, we will.”
Sheriff’s detectives are seeking the public’s help in identifying any other possible victims and/or witnesses. Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt. Nancy Drake, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273 or SpecialVictims@lasd.org. Or if you wish to remain Anonymous, call “LA Crime Stoppers” by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org
Read More:
Whittier Daily News: Cal High coach accused of inappropriate relationship with student
CBS Los Angeles: Former Whittier Teacher, 34, Accused Of Having Sex With Underage Student
