A Chula Vista High School instructor nominated for the county’s “teacher of the year” award and accused of carrying a several-year sexual relationship with an underage female student is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday.
Detectives arrested Terrance Lee Smith, 32, at a Sweetwater Union High School District office on Monday morning. The alleged victim had contacted police earlier in the day to report the purported crimes, alleging they occurred between 2006 and 2008, starting when she was 16, Capt. Gary Wedge said.
Wedge said the young woman’s mother reported her suspicions to investigators. Investigators then questioned the woman and learned details of her interaction with Smith.
Police said the woman told them she had consensual sex with Smith in his classroom, his apartment and car. The relationship continued past her 18th birthday.
Investigators believe that Smith, a ninth-grade English instructor, may have engaged in similar illegal acts with at least one other student, though no additional alleged victims have been identified, the captain said.
The alleged victim was not one of Smith’s students.
The suspect was booked into San Diego Central Jail. He was being held on $350,000 bail pending arraignment, scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.
Police said Smith cannot be charged with unlawful sex with a minor because the statute of limitations ran out, so he is facing 14 counts of oral copulation. 10News has learned Smith is married and recently became a father.
Viridiana Moreno, Smith’s neighbor, told 10News, “They seemed happy. He was so excited about having someone in his life and settling down and having children.”
Moreno’s daughter was also one of Smith’s students. “She’s up in college now,” she said. “She was devastated. She was crying. He was always there for her, as a teacher, as a mentor, as a friend. He attended her Quinceanera.
Smith was one of 42 local educators nominated for one of the county’s five 2012-13 teacher-of-the-year awards. He was not among the winners, who were named this month. In his application, he wrote, “There is never a dull moment in my class.” He also wrote about his passion for teaching and how he overcame a tough childhood to become a role model.
“I was so disappointed and shocked, and I couldn’t believe it,” said Chula Vista High School senior Astrid Rea. Dozens of students gathered in front of the high school Tuesday telling reporters they think the Chula Vista Police Department got it wrong.
“He has a wife and kids. I don’t think he would ever do something like that,” said student Carolina Torres. “If it’s true, why would the girl come out in 2012, when that supposedly happened in 2008, 2006? That makes no sense.
A school district spokesman said he was “shocked” to learn of Smith’s arrest, and that the district is fully cooperating with police. Smith, a graduate of Chula Vista High, has been placed on paid administrative leave, 10News learned.
Some students at Chula Vista High are standing by Smith and plan to show their support for him on Wednesday by wearing white t-shirts to school.
via BlackMediaScoop
