SIMI VALLEY : Teacher in Sex Case May Be Suspended

Officials of the Simi Valley Unified School District will decide today whether to suspend a teacher who was arrested last week on suspicion of annoying a 16-year-old boy, an administrator said.

Simi Valley High School photography teacher John Burns, 40, who was arrested on campus and charged with making improper sexual advances to the unidentified boy, did not return to the classroom Friday, Principal David Ellis said.

District officials will review the case today and decide whether Burns will be suspended, Ellis said.

Simi Valley Police Department detectives began an investigation Oct. 24 after receiving reports that Burns had allegedly made advances to the boy in August.

Police came to the campus Thursday and requested that Burns leave his class and come to the principal’s office, Ellis said.

Burns was placed under arrest and left with police officers, Ellis said.

Burns was not handcuffed and the arrest did not disrupt the school day, Ellis said.

Burns was released from the Ventura County Jail after posting $500 bail, Ventura County sheriff’s officials said.

Burns has taught at Simi Valley High for three years and is the yearbook adviser.

“I’ve known John for I don’t know how many years,” Ellis said.

“There were never, ever any problems.”