Female adult teacher, 28, has sex with two of her 13 year old male students. Is this a teenage boy's wet dream or psychologically harmful sexual abuse?
Teacher Accused Of Having Sex With Students Appears In Court
Teacher Faces Multiple Counts Of Lewd Acts With Children
January 5, 2005
LOS ANGELES -- An Orange middle school teacher accused of having sexual contact with two 13-year-old boys who were former students was arraigned Thursday.
Sarah Suzanne Bench-Salorio, 28, of Orange, was charged with 20 counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 years old. The suspect, who taught for two years at Santiago Charter Middle School, was arrested Tuesday, a day after one of the boys told his parents about the alleged contact with his former teacher, Sgt. Dave Hill said.
Bench-Salorio, who taught reading and English, was booked Wednesday at the Orange County Jail, with bond set at $1 million, a jail clerk said.
"Our investigation indicates that the teacher initiated the sexual contact, and that this contact took place over a period of several months," Hill said. "We're looking at events that spanned several months throughout 2004, and part of that investigation is to determine if it happened sooner than that. We believe the contact took place at various locations and we're investigating whether it was at the parties' homes or the school."
After the one boy came forward, a follow-up investigation "determined there was a second victim," Hill said, but he did not know if both boys knew about each other.
"We are confident in the solidity of our charges," he said.
District Attorney Anthony Rackauckas told reporters that the boys "were seduced by Bench-Salorio over dinner, through e-mails and phone calls for several months before any molestation started."
"These were students of hers that she befriended and romanced over a period of time, and then seduced," he said. "Miss Bench-Salorio was entrusted with teaching these boys reading and writing and instead these victims had to learn lessons that they should not have had to learn from this teacher.
"To my knowledge they didn't take place on campus, (but) at least (at) a couple of different locations," he said. "One (was) in a residence, not at her residence (but) I understand it was at the boy's residence."
An attorney for Bench-Solorio said she is "embarrassed."
"She is very embarrassed and wants to let everybody know she's very embarrassed by what has happened," said defense attorney Alan Stokke. "She's sympathetic to the families of the young men involved. She's sympathetic because of the effect this is having with the school."
Stokke declined to comment specifically on the charges outside the courtroom, but said his client cried during her court appearance because "it's very emotional being accused of a serious crime."
Rackauckas said Bench-Salorio faces up to 46 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
She did not enter a plea Thursday. Another court appearance is scheduled for next week.
Bench-Salorio is married to Christopher Salorio, 30, an electrical foreman who garnered 45 percent of votes but lost a bid for trustee in the Orange Unified School District in the November election, the Los Angeles Times reported. The couple are raising his three siblings -- ages 5, 10 and 14 -- as foster children, according to the newspaper.
Orange Unified School District Superintendent Robert French said Bench-Salorio has been placed on administrative leave, and the district is cooperating in the investigation.
"This is a personnel matter, and on that basis the district can give no additional information. However, the primary concern of the district is always the safety and welfare of its students," French said.
Under provisions of the California Penal Code, police notified the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing of Bench-Salorio's arrest, Hill said.
Investigators are trying to determine if there are other victims, he said. Anyone with information that may be pertinent to the case is asked to call the Orange Police Department at (714) 744-7444.
Female instructor had sex with male student, 15, investigators say
Hall teacher indicted on sex abuse charge
Thursday, December 16, 2004
BY BRANDON COUTRE
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
SPRING VALLEY - Police arrested a female Hall High School biology teacher Wednesday for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old male student on school property.
A Bureau County grand jury earlier in the day indicted 29-year-old Gina M. Purvis, 345 N. Arch St., Tiskilwa, on a charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. That indictment alleges Purvis engaged in sex with the student in spring 2004.
Purvis was released on $35,000 bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 22.
A substitute teacher is filling in for Purvis, who was placed on paid leave Nov. 15. She will remain on paid leave through the investigation, said Hall High School Superintendent Dan Oest.
Investigators do not believe Purvis, who has taught at the school for the past five years, has abused other students. Spring Valley Police Chief Doug Bernabei would not disclose whether the alleged incident occurred more than once.
The investigation in the case was launched Nov. 10 by the Spring Valley Police Department and assisted by the Bureau County State's Attorney Child Protection Services Division and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
Hall High School administration alerted police to the alleged incident, but Bernabei would not say who tipped off school administration.
Bernabei commended Hall High School officials and students for cooperating with the investigation. He also commended the school and staff for affording respect to the victim.
"This has been a very difficult set of circumstances for everyone involved," Bernabei said.
"The district is dismayed this occurred. Allegations were immediately turned over to police," said Dan Oest, Hall High School superintendent.
Purvis recently moved to Tiskilwa from rural Princeton, Bernabei said. She does not have a listed phone number and could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening.
If convicted of the Class 2 felony, Purvis could face three to seven years in prison.
Teacher Accused Of Having Sex With Students Appears In Court
Teacher Faces Multiple Counts Of Lewd Acts With Children
January 5, 2005
LOS ANGELES -- An Orange middle school teacher accused of having sexual contact with two 13-year-old boys who were former students was arraigned Thursday.
Sarah Suzanne Bench-Salorio, 28, of Orange, was charged with 20 counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 years old. The suspect, who taught for two years at Santiago Charter Middle School, was arrested Tuesday, a day after one of the boys told his parents about the alleged contact with his former teacher, Sgt. Dave Hill said.
Bench-Salorio, who taught reading and English, was booked Wednesday at the Orange County Jail, with bond set at $1 million, a jail clerk said.
"Our investigation indicates that the teacher initiated the sexual contact, and that this contact took place over a period of several months," Hill said. "We're looking at events that spanned several months throughout 2004, and part of that investigation is to determine if it happened sooner than that. We believe the contact took place at various locations and we're investigating whether it was at the parties' homes or the school."
After the one boy came forward, a follow-up investigation "determined there was a second victim," Hill said, but he did not know if both boys knew about each other.
"We are confident in the solidity of our charges," he said.
District Attorney Anthony Rackauckas told reporters that the boys "were seduced by Bench-Salorio over dinner, through e-mails and phone calls for several months before any molestation started."
"These were students of hers that she befriended and romanced over a period of time, and then seduced," he said. "Miss Bench-Salorio was entrusted with teaching these boys reading and writing and instead these victims had to learn lessons that they should not have had to learn from this teacher.
"To my knowledge they didn't take place on campus, (but) at least (at) a couple of different locations," he said. "One (was) in a residence, not at her residence (but) I understand it was at the boy's residence."
An attorney for Bench-Solorio said she is "embarrassed."
"She is very embarrassed and wants to let everybody know she's very embarrassed by what has happened," said defense attorney Alan Stokke. "She's sympathetic to the families of the young men involved. She's sympathetic because of the effect this is having with the school."
Stokke declined to comment specifically on the charges outside the courtroom, but said his client cried during her court appearance because "it's very emotional being accused of a serious crime."
Rackauckas said Bench-Salorio faces up to 46 years in prison if convicted of all charges.
She did not enter a plea Thursday. Another court appearance is scheduled for next week.
Bench-Salorio is married to Christopher Salorio, 30, an electrical foreman who garnered 45 percent of votes but lost a bid for trustee in the Orange Unified School District in the November election, the Los Angeles Times reported. The couple are raising his three siblings -- ages 5, 10 and 14 -- as foster children, according to the newspaper.
Orange Unified School District Superintendent Robert French said Bench-Salorio has been placed on administrative leave, and the district is cooperating in the investigation.
"This is a personnel matter, and on that basis the district can give no additional information. However, the primary concern of the district is always the safety and welfare of its students," French said.
Under provisions of the California Penal Code, police notified the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing of Bench-Salorio's arrest, Hill said.
Investigators are trying to determine if there are other victims, he said. Anyone with information that may be pertinent to the case is asked to call the Orange Police Department at (714) 744-7444.
Female instructor had sex with male student, 15, investigators say
Hall teacher indicted on sex abuse charge
Thursday, December 16, 2004
BY BRANDON COUTRE
OF THE JOURNAL STAR
SPRING VALLEY - Police arrested a female Hall High School biology teacher Wednesday for allegedly having sex with a 15-year-old male student on school property.
A Bureau County grand jury earlier in the day indicted 29-year-old Gina M. Purvis, 345 N. Arch St., Tiskilwa, on a charge of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. That indictment alleges Purvis engaged in sex with the student in spring 2004.
Purvis was released on $35,000 bond. Her next court appearance is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 22.
A substitute teacher is filling in for Purvis, who was placed on paid leave Nov. 15. She will remain on paid leave through the investigation, said Hall High School Superintendent Dan Oest.
Investigators do not believe Purvis, who has taught at the school for the past five years, has abused other students. Spring Valley Police Chief Doug Bernabei would not disclose whether the alleged incident occurred more than once.
The investigation in the case was launched Nov. 10 by the Spring Valley Police Department and assisted by the Bureau County State's Attorney Child Protection Services Division and the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.
Hall High School administration alerted police to the alleged incident, but Bernabei would not say who tipped off school administration.
Bernabei commended Hall High School officials and students for cooperating with the investigation. He also commended the school and staff for affording respect to the victim.
"This has been a very difficult set of circumstances for everyone involved," Bernabei said.
"The district is dismayed this occurred. Allegations were immediately turned over to police," said Dan Oest, Hall High School superintendent.
Purvis recently moved to Tiskilwa from rural Princeton, Bernabei said. She does not have a listed phone number and could not be reached for comment Wednesday evening.
If convicted of the Class 2 felony, Purvis could face three to seven years in prison.
I don't think I would have minded being "abused" sexually 
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