Carlsbad Teacher Named in Sex Probe

Even as a Fallbrook High School band teacher was being arraigned on 11 felony counts of sexual assault on two teen-age girls, Carlsbad police said Tuesday they are investigating allegations of “unlawful sexual contact” between a high school basketball coach and a teen-age girl.

The Fallbrook teacher, Kevin McLean, 32, pleaded innocent to the charges and was ordered held on $100,000 bail by Vista Municipal Court Judge Suzanne Knauf.

Meanwhile, Carlsbad High School Vice Principal Margaret Stanchi said that John Nelson, a basketball coach at Carlsbad High School, was placed on administrative leave Dec. 14 and is now at home, pending an investigation by Carlsbad police.

Stanchi said an attorney for the school district “is working closely” with police but she would not elaborate on the reason for the investigation “because it’s a personnel issue and we are bound by law not to comment.”

For their part, Carlsbad police, while refusing to identify any of the parties involved, said a “high school teacher” is the target of an investigation.

Lt. Don Lewis said the investigation was sparked by “an allegation involving a juvenile, a female under 18, and that the allegation was of unlawful sexual contact.”

Lewis refused to elaborate.

“This is very sensitive. We’re trying to error on the side of caution,” Lewis said. “The reputation of both parties, and the career of the teacher, is in question, and all we have at this time are allegations.”

Lewis said the investigation would not be completed this week.

“The investigation was opened based on a report we received in person at the station. We still do not know the totality of the circumstances, and what charges are possible if any, or what violations we could be looking for,” he said.

Because he is on leave, Nelson has missed opening league play of his basketball team.

The Fallbrook band teacher, who was arrested on Friday by the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department, was formally charged Tuesday with 11 felony counts--five of statutory rape, three of oral copulation and three of penetration with a foreign object.

Deputy Dist. Atty. Kate Elkin said McLean is alleged to have sexually assaulted two different girls, one 16, the other 17.

McLean, who had taught at Fallbrook High School for 1 1/2 years, was suspended without pay Monday night by school district trustees.

McLean was originally held on $165,000 bail and a hearing was scheduled for Thursday morning to hear a request by his defense attorney, Robert Boyce, that bail be further reduced from $100,000.