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Teacher Accused Of Sex With Teen Could Face 50 Years

MURRIETA (CBS) — A Temecula middle school teacher accused of carrying on a year-long sexual relationship with a teenage girl is slated to be arraigned Tuesday on multiple felony charges.

James Seishin Pinckard, 56, could face more than 50 years in prison if convicted of 13 counts of unlawful intercourse with a minor, oral copulation of a minor and indecent exposure.

The James L. Day Middle School teacher is free on $50,000 bail.

During his previously scheduled arraignment two weeks ago, Pinckard was briefly taken back into custody after the prosecution objected to the defendant's original $5,000 bail, requesting that it be increased in accordance with the state's bail schedule per the pending charges.

Riverside County Superior Court Judge Michael Rushton ordered sheriff's deputies to detain Pinckard in the courtroom until he could post the higher bond, else book him into the Southwest Detention Center. He came up with the bail and was released within two hours.

The defendant, a math instructor at Day for the last decade, is on unpaid administrative leave from his post until his criminal case is resolved.

According to Murrieta police Sgt. Phil Gomez, on the night of Nov. 9, patrol officers were sent to 41771 Corporate Center Court to check out a burglar alarm sounding at a business.

Officers spotted a van parked at the location and questioned the driver, Pinckard, discovering a 17-year-old girl "hiding in the rear of the van," Gomez said.

"Investigation revealed Pinckard and the juvenile ... (had) been involved in an ongoing sexual relationship for over one year," the sergeant alleged.

The girl had attended Pinckard's class.

The judge issued a criminal protective order earlier this month prohibiting any contact between the defendant and alleged victim.

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