Watch CBS News

Part-Time Coach, Substitute Teacher, 29, Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Female Acquaintance

INDIO (CBS) — A La Quinta man who works as a substitute teacher and part-time coach is behind bars, accused of sexually assaulting a family acquaintance last spring.

Daniel Patrick Armstrong, 29, was arrested around 5:45 p.m. Thursday in connection with a Riverside County Sheriff's Department investigation into a girl's claims she was sexually assaulted by a family acquaintance in March and April, sheriff's Sgt. John Hignight said Friday.

Armstrong had worked as a substitute teacher and part-time coach for the Desert Sands Unified School District. There is no evidence connecting his school employment with the alleged victim, Hignight said.

The girl contacted the La Quinta Police Department, which is staffed by the sheriff's department, on Aug. 3, Hignight said.

"(She) gave a detailed account of the sexual assaults and named the adult who had committed these crimes," he said.

The sheriff's Indio Investigations Unit began an investigation and conducted multiple interviews with the girl's family and friends over the next week, Hignight said. Armstrong was arrested as a suspect as he entered his residence Thursday. Investigators also served a search warrant there seeking evidence, Hignight said.

The department has declined to release the girl's age.

Armstrong was booked into the Indio Jail, suspected of 25 counts of oral copulation, five counts of lewd acts with a child, one count of sending harmful matter to a child and eight counts of digital penetration. He is being held in lieu of $50,000 bail and is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 5 at Larson Justice Center in Indio, according to jail records.

Hignight said detectives are asking those with knowledge of any additional inappropriate contact involving Armstrong to contact them at (760) 863-8990 or email IndioStation@riversidesheriff.org. Witnesses can also contact Coachella Valley Crimestoppers at (760) 341-7867. Informants can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward, Hignight said.

(©2011 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.