A defense attorney for a former Brea Olinda Unified School Board trustee accused of sending sexually charged messages to two teens criticized prosecutors Thursday for “misinformation” about the case.
Christopher Gerard Becerra, 42, of Brea, was charged Friday with two felony counts of contacting a minor with the intent to commit a specified offense, two misdemeanor counts of child annoyance and a misdemeanor count of attempting to induce false testimony.
Becerra made his first appearance in court Wednesday and posted $100,000 bail and was released. Becerra was arrested Dec. 18 and posted bail and was released then.
Becerra was accused of sending messages to a 15-year-old former student in the district through social media, according to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office. The defendant allegedly told the teen, who had transferred out of the district, he was sexy and asked him to send him a photo, prosecutors said.
After Becerra was questioned by police he was accused of asking a school district employee to claim he lost his phone during a trip to Las Vegas where he was at the time, prosecutors said.
The defendant is also accused of sending multiple text messages between October and November of last year to a 17-year-old boy he also said was sexy with a request for a photo, prosecutors said.
Becerra’s seat on the school board was declared vacant in March because he had stopped attending meetings since November, prosecutors said.
“This sexual exploitation of children will never be tolerated,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement. “It is unconscionable that someone elected to help administer the education of our children would prey on children for his own sexual gratification. I am grateful for the hard work of the Brea Police Department and for the bravery of a child who came forward to report this disgusting behavior and allow this predator to be held accountable for his actions.”
Becerra’s attorney, Jacqueline Goodman, said, “While we have refrained from public comment, the level of misinformation surrounding this case compels us to set the record straight. My client served as a school board member — not a teacher — and thus had no direct contact with students. He is neither accused of any inappropriate touching, nor of communicating with a minor for the purpose of arranging a meeting.”
The defense attorney added, “Instead, the charges are based on disputed online communications that must be evaluated by neutral decision-makers — not by politicians’ allegations presented in a press release meant to inflame. These misconceptions underscore why this case must be decided in a courtroom, not the internet. Mr. Becerra is not guilty of the charges, and we look forward to resolving this matter in a court of law.”
Becerra represented Area 4, which includes Brea Junior High School. Becerra has four children, all of whom have attended the district’s schools since preschool.
Police said in December that Becerra worked at Santa Ana College and was on the North Orange County Regional Occupational Program’s Board of Trustees.
He has a doctorate degree in early childhood education and was described as an “active volunteer” for the school district, according to the district’s website. He has also served on the board for the Brea Educational Foundation and the Laurel Elementary Magnet School Parent Teacher Organization.
Becerra worked as an administrative director of child development services in the school district from 2010-18, according to the district.
“Chris states that his greatest accomplishment was adding a preschool and transitional kindergarten classroom to every elementary school throughout the school district,” according to the district’s website.