A substitute high school custodian was arrested on suspicion that he planned to meet an underage student for sex, San Diego County Sheriff's officials said.
Detectives say Elias Morales II, a 21-year-old substitute custodian at the Grossmont Union High School District, began texting "inappropriately" with a 14-year-old student from El Capitan High School.
When the school district notified law enforcement about this activity, sheriff's detectives and deputies posed as the student and started messaging Morales.
The custodian allegedly asked the student to skip class and meet him off-campus, and the detectives — speaking as the student — agreed to meet up for a sexual liaison.
When Morales drove to the planned Lakeside location Thursday, deputies arrested him.
Morales was booked into jail for communicating with a minor with intent to commit a specified sex act and appearing at an arranged meeting place for the purpose of committing lewd acts with a minor. He is being held on a $50,000 bail, and his arraignment is scheduled for Feb. 27.
GUHSD spokeswoman Catherine Martin confirmed Friday that Morales had been working throughout the district for the past three months. He, like all employees, was fingerprinted and underwent a Department of Justice and FBI background checks before he was hired. He met all the qualifications.
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On Thursday, Morales was released from his job, Martin said. Because this is an ongoing investigation, district officials are limited as to what they can discuss.
"When concerns involving any adult on campus come before us, our normal procedure is to remove the adult from the situation and conduct a full investigation in cooperation with law enforcement," Martin said in a statement. "We take this particularly seriously when the actions could endanger students."
Detectives are trying to determine if there are more alleged victims. The sheriff's department says parents should check to see whom their kids are talking with over social media and through text messages.
If you know about this case or other suspected victims, call the sheriff's sexual assault unit at 858-974-2316 or after hours at 858-565-5200. You can also call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
