Recently-Appointed Banning District Dean of Students Arrested For Arranging to Meet Minor For Sex, Catholic Archdiocese Reveals Dark Past
Photo: Charles Patrick Mayer
RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Recently-appointed Banning School District Dean of Students Charles Patrick Mayer (55) of Menifee unwittingly joined in on a sting. While chatting on an unrelated investigations’ unmonitored social media account, he landed in an undercover law enforcement account used for various investigations.
First, SBSD-Rancho Cucamonga PD Detectives encountered Mayer joining in on an initiated conversation that he thought was with a 14-yr-old boy. He chatted back and forth with the decoy (actually the Detectives) for five days. Mayer sent nude photos of himself.
Mayer wanted the decoy to come to his residence in Menifee for the weekend. Then, there they could engage in sexual acts. He made arrangements to meet at an agreed-upon location in Rancho Cucamonga. There he planned to pick the decoy up to go back to his residence for the night.
On August 17th near 4:30 PM the suspect drove from his new job as 2018-19 school year’s Dean of Students at Nicolet Middle School. On August 17th near 4:30 PM he drove from Nicolet to the agreed-upon meeting-place.
Detectives waited to arrest Mayer for Sending Harmful Matter to a Minor; Arrange to Meet Minor for Sexual Acts; and Meet Minor for Sexual Acts. He faces a bail of $1,000,000.
As a result of the evidence in the presented case, the DA filed two Felony counts against Mayer.
Investigators found that Mayer had been a teacher at Nicolet Middle School. Also, he was ordained as a priest of the Archdiocese of L.A. in 1996. He served at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Northridge from 1996-2000.
Detectives said, “He has been on in-active leave as a priest, not in ministry, since September of 2000 due to a failure to adhere to Archdiocesan policies concerning interaction with youth and young adults.”
Also, since 2000, Mayer previously taught at and was Vice Principal at various religious-based schools in Menifee and Vista.
Detectives are looking into possible inappropriate and criminal behavior involving students at those schools. They are also looking at the possibility of other student victims within the Banning School District.
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles, as well as officials from the Banning School District, are fully cooperating with the investigation.
Detectives suspect Mayer may have previously met with and engaged in sexual acts with other teenage boys. If anyone recognizes Mayer or has information, they can contact the Detective’s Bureau at the Rancho Cucamonga PD. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME.
