DAVIS-
Davis Joint School District officials held an emergency press conference Monday morning, after one of the district’s longtime teachers was arrested for sexual battery.
On Sept. 14, Davis Police received calls that 40-year-old John O’Brien, a science teacher at Frances Harper Jr. High, allegedly went to a 16-year-old boy’s home, and and inappropriately touched the teen over his clothes.
Davis Police said the teen was O’Brien’s former student, and that he acted as his mentor.
“We are not defined by this single incident,” Superintendent Winfred Roberson said. “The alleged events that led to the alleged incident did not occur on the school campus, and the criminal case strictly remains a police matter.”
On Sept. 17, the district says they placed O’Brien on paid administrative leave, and began their internal investigation.
On Oct. 30, a misdemeanor warrant for one count of sexual battery was issued for his arrest. O’Brien never turned himself in.
Then, last Friday, O’Brien was arrested in Concord- cited and released after promising to appear in court.
FOX40 tried visiting O’Brien at his last known address, but no one answered. His neighbor told us he has not seen him in a few months.
“His mom came, maybe two months ago, because his TV had been on forever,” neighbor Brandon Hart said.
Since November, the district has switched O’Brien to unpaid leave.
“The Board of Education has begun dismissal proceedings with the intent of terminating Mr. O’Brien’s employment,” Roberson said.
District officials said O’Brien is a 15-year veteran of the district.
The Yolo County Chief Deputy District Attorney said O’Brien has agreed to appear for his arraignment on Feb. 10.
