Calif. Teacher On Leave Over Porn Video Allegation

Published March 7, 2012 7:00PM (EST)

OXNARD, Calif. (AP) — Junior high school students have been asked not to search Internet sex sites for a teacher who may have been moonlighting as a porn star, a Southern California school district said in a letter to parents.

The Haydock Intermediate School teacher, whose name hasn't been released, was placed on paid administrative leave this week while the Oxnard School District investigates the sex video allegations.

The video does not involve any district students.

"It has been alleged that one of our teachers is depicted in at least one pornographic video and possibly others on the Internet," superintendent Jeff Chancer said in the Tuesday letter to parents at the district's three junior high schools.

"We are asking teachers to discourage the children from searching for and/or visiting these inappropriate sites," Chancer wrote.

Chancer was asked Wednesday if the curiosity of 12-, 13- and 14-year-olds might actually be piqued by the notice.

"I don't know," he said.

There's no moral turpitude clause in the teacher's contract, Chancer said. But the California Education Code outlines teacher employment conditions that could lead to discipline or termination, he said.

"We're trying to determine if there's a nexus on what she does on her own time and what she does in the classroom," Chancer said.

The Oxnard Police Department was notified, but spokeswoman Monica Munoz said there's no criminal investigation.

Allegations first came to the attention of school administrators because of student rumors sweeping the Haydock campus on Friday, the Ventura County Star (http://bit.ly/Au72Le) said.

Haydock school leaders investigated and initially sent an email to staff members saying the rumors were unfounded.

However, a school computer firewall had blocked access to sex sites.

Two teachers came forward later in the day to show administrators a link they had downloaded on their smartphones, the superintendent said.

"A school site administrator saw the video and said he believes the teacher is in the video," Chancer said. "I saw parts of the video. It's hardcore pornography."

The teacher was placed on leave during a meeting Monday. Chancer wouldn't say if the teacher acknowledged or denied it was her on the video. He also refused to give her age and other information because it's a personnel matter.

School officials met with other teachers and Chancer said they were OK with the district's response.

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Information from: Ventura County Star, http://venturacountystar.com


By Salon Staff

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