VISTA (CBS 8) - An Escondido teacher accused of molesting an underage stuent has pleaded not guilty.
Mario Humerez, 35, a teacher at Valley High School, was arrested last week. He is charged with one count of oral copulation and one count of sexual penetration, both of which allegedly happened on campus.
"This case involves a teacher and a student that was 16 and 17 at the time of the alleged acts," deputy district attorney Terri Perez said.
The alleged victim says one incident occurred in the classroom while students were watching a movie.
Prosecutors also asked that Humerez not have contact with minors except for his own three children.
He faces nearly four years in prison if convicted on both counts.
THIS IS A STORY UPDATE. Read below for an earlier version.
VISTA (CNS) - An Escondido teacher accused of having sexual contact with an underage student was scheduled to be arraigned Friday at the Vista courthouse.
Mario Humerez, 35, a teacher at Valley High School, was arrested last Friday on suspicion of one count of oral copulation of a minor and one count of sexual penetration of a minor, said Escondido police Lt. Christopher K. Wynn.
The investigation was initiated by the alleged victim, who is now 19 and said the 16-month relationship began in September 2007, when she was 16, Wynn said. The victim alleged two instances of sexual contact, one reportedly while other students in Humerez's class watched a movie.
Humerez was arrested without incident in the 400 block of North Escondido Boulevard, where he believed he was going to meet the victim, Wynn said. He later bailed out and was ordered to appear at the Vista courthouse Friday for arraignment, said Steve Walker of the District Attorney's Office.