Fullerton School District Meet With Parents About Teacher Accused Of Sexual Misconduct

FULLERTON (CBSLA.com)  — The Fullerton School District released an official statement regarding the arrest of one of their teachers for alleged sexual misconduct involving students.

Melissa Lindgren, an 8th-grade teacher at Nicolas Junior High School, was arrested Friday after allegedly admitting to felony sexual misconduct with two male students. She alleged molested the boys and sent them sexual text messages.

"I believe that it was more than a single incident. I do think it was over some period of time," District Superintendent Bob Pletka said. "Ultimately, we will pursue termination, and it is an administrative law judge who makes that decision. But she will not be teaching with our kids at our district."

Lindgren, 28, lives in La Mirada and has taught at Nicolas Junior High School for six years. She's charged with child annoyance, child molest and the dissemination of harmful material to a minor. She was booked at the Fullerton Police Department and reportedly released after posting a $100,000 bail.

The Fullerton School District said Saturday they were collaborating with the Fullerton Police Department "to advance its investigation, due process, and court proceedings of the allegations. This occurrence is in direct conflict of Fullerton School District zero-tolerance policy on staff misconduct, where the District's teachers, faculty and staff are held to a higher standard."

The alleged sexual misconduct, said the district, was reported "by two brave students."

The statement went on to say, "Pending due process, teacher Melissa Lindgren has been placed on administrative leave by the Fullerton School District."

The news came as a shock to several students.

"She was really nice and she was so calm. She was kind of like a teenager and she understood everyone," former student Astrid Aguayo said. "But then, I was kind of surprised and shocked by this."

"All the teachers are not like that. It's unfortunate one of the teachers was so bad. This is a wonderful school," parent Laura Lomeli said.

Parents packed into a meeting Monday night held by the district at the high school. More than a hundred people had to sit outside.

"This cannot be tolerated," one parent said to district officials.

Another said, "We never want this to happen again."