School Allegedly Lagged In Reporting Suspected Sex Abuse To Police

REDLANDS (AP) — Southern California school district officials were slow to tell police that a teacher was suspected of sexually abusing a student, who allegedly gave birth to the 16-year-old boy's child last month.

The San Gabriel Valley Tribune reports Redlands Unified School District officials learned of the allegations in May, but waited until July to tell police.

Teacher Laura Whitehurst has been accused of sexually abusing at least three male students, one of whom is allegedly the father of a baby she gave birth to in June. That boy told his mother, who reported the allegations.

Redlands detective Dominick Povero says their relationship began on a school-sponsored trip to Disneyland in July 2012.

Schools don't have to be certain of sexual abuse before reporting their suspicions to police, who then investigate.

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