Laguna Niguel teacher arrested for sending sexually explicit photos and text messages to students www.privateofficer.com

 

Laguna Niguel CA April 7 2012 English teacher Dominic Witter, 25 of Laguna Niguel was arrested Thursday night on suspicion of allegedly sending sexually explicit photos and text messages to a female student at the school where he teaches.

Witter who teaches in Irvine was taken into custody when he arrived at a pizza restaurant in Laguna Hills expecting to meet the female victim. Instead, the instructor and coach at Crean Lutheran High School was detained by investigators from the Orange County Child Exploitation Task Force, including special agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations, Orange County Sheriff’s deputies and detectives from the Irvine Police Department.

Witter was arrested on probable cause for allegedly sending the underage student sexually explicit text messages and nude photos of himself. In those messages, Witter allegedly asked the victim to send him explicit pictures of her. The matter is being referred to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution. It is expected Witter will be arraigned in Orange County Superior court early next week.

“We entrust teachers to serve as role models for our children and safeguard their welfare. When that trust is violated, there will be zero tolerance,” said Claude Arnold, special agent in charge for HSI Los Angeles. “Those who exploit their access to young people to gratify their own perverse sexual desires are on notice that there will be serious consequences for those actions.”

In addition to teaching English, Witter also serves as a coach for the school’s girls’ track and boys’ soccer teams. Investigators have notified the school about the arrest.

“I am proud of the outstanding work the Orange County Sheriff’s Department did on this case and our investigators will continue to do whatever is necessary to protect our children from those who would sexually exploit them,” said Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens.

The Task Force received substantial assistance with the case from the Irvine Police Department.

The OCCETF’s investigation is ongoing and there is concern Witter may have other victims. Investigators are asking anyone with information that may be relevant to the case to contact ICE’s toll-free 24-hour tip line at 1-866-DHS-2ICE.