Ex-teacher faces charges of sex with female student

A man charged with having sex with a female student under 16 years of age while he was a teacher in the Clark County School District will be arraigned in District Court at 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Metro Police arrested 33-year-old Joseph CDeBaca Friday on 39 felony charges of statutory sexual seduction, one count for each act that occurred between 1992 and 1997.

Metro Lt. Tom Monahan, head of the sexual-assault and abuse division, said CDebaca was charged under a law that forbids sexual contact between adults and anyone under the age of 16, regardless of whether there was consent.

The relationship between CDeBaca and the student was consensual, beginning when the girl was 14 and lasting until she was 19, Monahan said. She is now 20.

The teacher could not be charged with a crime under a 1997 law that prohibits sexual contact between teachers and students because the acts took place before the law went into effect, Monahan said.

CDeBaca taught math at Brinley Middle School for eight years and then at Cheyenne High School during the 1996-97 school year. He taught at Mojave High School in North Las Vegas last year. He met the student while at Brinley.

CDeBaca resigned last week, three days before his arrest Friday.

Monahan said he doesn't believe there were any other victims.

Brinley principal Alan McNulty said he was surprised by the charges.

"He was a very good teacher," McNulty said. "He was well-liked and well-respected by faculty and students. I never got an indication of anything inappropriate that was brought to my attention by a parent or a student."

Monahan said the victim's parents were unaware of the relationship.

Clark County School District spokesman Ray Willis said he was appalled by the allegations.

"If this man did what he is alleged to have done, (it is) totally deplorable," Willis said. "He will get his just due in the courts."

Monahan said the victim came forward last week and told about the relationship.

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