A 57-year-old Temecula elementary school teacher suspected of molesting a student was free Wednesday on a $55,000 bond and on indefinite suspension from his job.
George Vega of Temecula was arrested and booked into the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta Tuesday on suspicion of lewd acts on a child under 14 years old and annoying a minor.
Vega posted bail hours after he was taken into custody and was released.
“We have been and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement and are committed to supporting their efforts to determine the facts of this deeply concerning matter,” a Temecula Valley Unified School District statement read. “Although the investigation has been ongoing, it is important to know the district took immediate action to place the employee on administrative leave to protect both student safety and the integrity of the investigation, as soon as we were initially made aware of the allegations. The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority.”
TVUSD officials declined to specify the length of Vega’s employment as a Vail Elementary School instructor, nor would they provide any details regarding the alleged offenses.
Riverside County sheriff’s Sgt. Jim Peters said deputies initiated an investigation on May 7 after receiving reports of “inappropriate contact” between the teacher and an unnamed student at the campus, in the 29000 block of Mira Loma Drive.
Peters said further information was gathered, culminating in Vega’s arrest without incident at his residence on Pine Tree Circle Tuesday morning.
“Because this is and has been an ongoing investigation, we are limited in what we can share,” TVUSD stated. “We remain committed to maintaining a safe, respectful and secure learning environment across all of our schools and in all of our programs and activities.”
Counseling and support services have been made available at the campus for students, staff, parents, guardians and anyone else impacted by the allegations, according to the district.
Vega has no documented prior felony convictions in Riverside County. It was unknown whether detectives had turned the matter over to the District Attorney’s Office for review.
Anyone with information relevant to the investigation was asked to contact detectives at 951-955-1718.