A Southern California high school choir director was arrested on charges of sexual assault involving a student, as reported by Santa Ana Police. Yessenia Navarro Garcia, a 37-year-old teacher at Santa Ana High School, was apprehended by authorities after she was lured to a prearranged location under the guise of a meeting with the 17-year-old student with whom she was allegedly involved, according to a KTLA news report. The student, a senior at the high school, reported a six-month-long sexual relationship with Garcia, prompting the police investigation.
The report of the inappropriate relationship led to the police response at the high school around 6 p.m. last Friday, where Garcia admitted to the sexual acts reported by the teen after her arrest. The Santa Ana Police Department detailed the teacher's confession and her incarceration at Santa Ana Jail with bail set at $100,000. Garcia, who resides in Orange, has been a choir teacher at Santa Ana High School for five years and also directed the SAHS Alumni Choir since 2017 her profile remained listed on the school's choir webpage at the time of arrest, despite the allegations against her.
Detectives are conducting a wider investigation with the belief that there could be more victims or witnesses yet to come forward. Santa Ana Police Department asks anyone with pertinent information to contact Detective M. Tapia or to reach out to Orange County Crime Stoppers.
