Former Santa Ana High School teacher arrested for child molestation and pornography

NEWS, FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts: Lt. Jeff Hallock, 714.904.7042, JHallock@ocsd.org; Emily Osterberg, 714.647.1840, EOsterberg@ocsd.org

Dana Hills High School Teacher Arrested for Child Molestation and Pornography

DANA POINT, Calif. – (May 4, 2015) – On Monday, May 04, 2015, Ezequiel Barragan, 48, Aliso Viejo, was arrested following allegations of child molestation and possession of child pornography. (Editor’s Note – Barragan reportedly was a teacher at Santa Ana High School where he also was a varsity baseball coach).

On Monday, May 04, 2015, the Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force (OCCETF) was notified by a United States Postal Service (USPS) agent regarding an ongoing child pornography investigation. Barragan has been the target of a USPS investigation resulting in discovery of information that he also engaged in sexual relations with a male juvenile over the last two years. Today’s investigation has included interviews, search warrants and review of evidence obtained by investigators.

Over the last 20 years, Barragan has been involved in coaching youth baseball at various Little and Senior Leagues as well as at the junior/high school level. Barragan has volunteered with Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for Children in Orange County for the last several years, having access to numerous juvenile males.

Barragan was arrested for lewd and lascivious conduct with a child under the age of 14 years old and possession of child pornography. He was booked into Orange County Jail and is being held on $500K bail. Barragan is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday, May 6, 2015.

Anyone with additional information regarding additional victims is asked to call the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s (714) 647-7418 or (714) 647-7000. Anonymous tips may also be submitted to Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS (855-847-6227) or at occrimestoppers.org.

Barragan is currently employed by the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) as a Spanish teacher at Dana Hills High School in the city of Dana Point. All inquiries regarding Barragan’s employment status should be directed to CUSD Assistant Superintendent/PIO Julie Hatchel at (949) 234-9427 or jhatchel@capousd.org

*** Booking Photo attached

About the Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force (OCCETF)

The Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force (OCCETF) is a multi-agency team which includes Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Newport Beach Police Department, Huntington Beach Police Department and U.S. Postal Inspection Service, assigned to investigate Internet-related crimes against children as well as crimes involving the possession, production and distribution of child pornography.

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Art Pedroza Editor

Our Editor, Art Pedroza, worked at the O.C. Register and the OC Weekly and studied journalism at CSUF and UCI. He has lived in Santa Ana for over 30 years and has served on several city and county commissions. When he is not writing or editing Pedroza specializes in risk control and occupational safety. He also teaches part time at Cerritos College and CSUF. Pedroza has an MBA from Keller University.

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