Teacher arrested in sex case
A Cesar Chavez Elementary School teacher remained in custody Monday after being arrested last week on suspicion of inappropriately touching several students.
Miguel Angel Chavez was arrested Friday afternoon on school grounds. He was booked into the Yuma County jail early Saturday morning on two counts of aggravated assault and four counts of sexual abuse.
"Detectives found sufficient evidence to arrest him, so we did," said Lt. Gerardo Torres of the San Luis Police Department.
According to Torres, a group of six or seven students went to the principal's office at the school on Friday and reported that Chavez had been inappropriately touching them while they were on campus.
The principal then reported the matter to San Luis police, who responded to the school. Torres said Chavez was taken to the San Luis Police Department for an interview about the allegations.
According to Somerton Justice Court officials, Chavez is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday at 11 a.m. before Somerton Justice of the Peace pro tem Manny Figueroa.
Chavez, who is currently being held on a $2 million bail, will appear in the Somerton court via a video link from the Yuma County jail.
The Sun attempted to contact Gadsden School District Superintendent Dr. Ray Aguilera, but the district offices were closed on Monday.
It is not known what classes Chavez taught at the school. No further information about his employment at the school was immediately available.
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James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 539-6854.
