Redlands Teacher Pleads Not Guilty To Having Sex With 3 Students

SAN BERNARDINO (CBSLA.com) — A Redlands teacher pleaded not guilty Tuesday to having sexual relations with three of her students.

KNX 1070's Mike Landa reported that Laura Whitehurst, 28, appeared in court via video and pleaded not guilty to 41 felony counts of having sex with three minors.

"The first 30 counts are basically sex with a minor," said San Bernardino County Deputy District Attorney Melissa Rodriguez. "The other remaining counts are oral copulation with a person under the age of 18."

Whitehurst was arrested and released last week after she was accused of having the baby of one of the victims while she was a teacher at Citrus Valley High School.

Two more victims, who are now adults, later came forward and claimed they had sex with Whitehurst.

The instructor was then rearrested Monday and charged with more sex counts.

Rodriguez said Whitehurst was ordered to keep away from the baby's father.

"There is no contact between the two parties either by telephone, email, in person or by third parties," she said.

Defense attorney James Gass said he will attempt to have Whitehurst released without bail at a future hearing.

"She's a clean-cut American girl sitting in jail, so she's having a hard time, but she'll be okay," he said.

If convicted, Whitehurst faces up to 29 years in prison. She's expected back in court July 26.

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