The SAUSD’s Superintendent, Thelma Meléndez de Santa Ana, Ph.D., has issued a formal statement regarding the arrest of a former SAUSD teacher on charges of molesting two students and possessing graphic child pornagraphy, as follows, “We are deeply troubled to learn that a former teacher allegedly engaged in this reprehensible behavior and took advantage of the trust inherent in his profession. We are cooperating fully with the authorities, and encourage anybody with information that might aid their investigation to contact either the District Attorney’s office or the Newport Beach Police Department immediately.”
Anyone with additional information or who believes they may have been a victim is encouraged to contact NBPD Detective David Syvock at (949) 644-3771, SAUSDPD Sergeant Manuel Chavez at (714) 558-5739, or Supervising District Attorney Investigator Lou Gutierrez at (714) 347-8794.
UPDATE: My daughter Becky told me this evening that she complained about the teacher who was arrested, Alex Bassinne, in 2007, when she was a student at Santa Ana High School. Apparently Bassinne tried to touch her neck while he admired a necklace she was wearing. Becky met with the Assistant Principal at Santa Ana High. Unfortunately the Assistant Principal refused to conduct an investigation. Becky was transferred to another class but Bassinne was allowed to continue teaching. The girls he allegedly molested in 2009 and 2010 would have never been molested if the Assistant Principal my daughter complained to had done his job!
Here is the press release about the arrest issued today by the Orange County District Attorney’s office:For Immediate Release, Case # 12HF1197
Contacts:
Susan Kang Schroeder, Chief of Staff, Office: 714-347-8408, Cell: 714-292-2718
Farrah Emami, Spokesperson, Office: 714-347-8405, Cell: 714-323-4486
NEWPORT BEACH – A former teacher has been arrested on charges of molesting two female students, ages 13 and 15, and possessing graphic child pornography depicting young girls. Alex Bassinne, 50, Newport Beach, is charged with one felony count each of lewd acts upon a child under 14, lewd acts upon a child, and possession and control of child pornography. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of nine years and four months in state prison. The defendant was arrested today by the Newport Beach Police Department (NBPD) and posted $100,000 bail. He is expected to be arraigned June 15, 2012, at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach. The time and Department are to be determined.
At the time of the sexual assaults, Bassinne is accused of being a teacher with the Santa Ana Unified School District who had worked at Santa Ana High School and Raymond A. Villa Fundamental Intermediate School. During this time, the defendant is accused of making inappropriate sexual comments and leering at students.
On Feb. 15, 2009, the defendant is accused of molesting 15-year-old Jane Doe #2 by touching her buttocks during a class trip. Between Nov. 1, 2010, and Nov. 4, 2010, Bassinne is accused of looking down the shirt of 13-year-old Jane Doe #1. When Jane Doe #1 attempted to move her shirt to stop him, the defendant is accused of grabbing the victim’s shirt and positioning it so that he could continue looking down it.
In 2011, the defendant is accused of moving with his family from a home in Laguna Niguel to a home in Newport Beach and leaving several items of furniture behind, including a desk. The defendant is accused of leaving a disc in the desk containing images of graphic child pornography depicting girls, approximately 10 to 12 years old. In April 2011, someone discovered the disc and turned it over to law enforcement authorities.
NBPD subsequently searched the defendant’s Newport Beach home. In this home, the defendant is accused of being in possession of additional child pornography similar in nature to that found in the Laguna Niguel home. NBPD investigated the case and determined that the defendant had been a teacher. NBPD worked with the Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department (SAUSDPD) to investigate any possible victims and discovered the sexual assaults against Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2.
Anyone with additional information or who believes they may have been a victim is encouraged to contact NBPD Detective David Syvock at (949) 644-3771, SAUSDPD Sergeant Manuel Chavez at (714) 558-5739, or Supervising District Attorney Investigator Lou Gutierrez at (714) 347-8794.
Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Walker of the Sexual Assault Unit is prosecuting this case.
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The corruption of SAUSD finds itself in a HOT spot with this one!!! Not good for some board members who will be running this year. I'm not surprise given that the district is too huge to handle. The district needs to be broken into two or three districts in order to manage and oversee who they hire. New laws need to be in placed such as finger printing teachers every 6 months or upon request without notice.
If they would have fired every male teacher at Valley High who did this in the 1980's when I attended we would have only had a couple male teachers left! We had a basketball coach there at the time that makes this guy look like Tim Tebo. I wonder how he will like getting some of the same "carino" from his cellies during the years to come?