Math Teacher Arrested for Molesting Students

September 18, 2008

Los Angeles:  A school teacher was arrested and charged for committing lewd acts against school girls.

In July 2008, detectives began a criminal investigation against 32-year-old Ricardo Flores, a math teacher and PE coach at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Sun Valley.  A 12-year-old female student reported to the police that Flores had committed lewd acts against her over the course of one school year from September 2007 through May 2008 on school grounds.

Detectives from the Sexually Exploited Child Unit assumed responsibility for the investigation and have conducted over 60 interviews of other students and staff at the school.  The interviews resulted in one additional victim; a 14-year-old female student, who also reported that she had been molested by Flores.

On September 16, 2008, Flores was arrested and booked.  Bail was set at $1 million.

On September 18, 2008, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed 10 counts of 288 (a) PC, Lewd Acts upon Child under 14.

Flores photo is being made public in order to look for any possible additional victims.  Flores has worked at various other school programs in the Los Angeles area prior to his four-year tenure at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.

Anyone with additional information regarding this case is encouraged to contact Detective Moses Castillo, Juvenile Division, at (213) 485-6550.  After hours or on weekends, calls may be directed to a 24-hour, toll-free number at 1-877-LAWFULL (529-3855) or by texting CRIMES (274637) and beginning the message with the letters LAPD.  Tipsters may also submit information on the LAPD website, www.lapdonline.org.  Tips may remain anonymous.