Junior High Teacher Charged in Molestation of Former Student

A Kraemer Junior High School teacher has been charged with molesting a 14-year-old boy, court officials confirmed Wednesday.

Michelle Lynn Smith, 36, of Orange was arrested by Placentia police at 12:20 a.m. on Feb. 26, department spokeswoman Corinne Loomis said.

Police had received an anonymous phone call regarding “possibly suspicious” activity in a parked car in the 1600 block of Sierra Madre Circle, Loomis said.

When officers arrived, they made contact with two people in the car--Smith and a 14-year-old boy, Loomis said. Smith was arrested on suspicion of child molestation and booked at County Jail. She later posted $50,000 bail.

The alleged victim, a former student of Smith’s, was not placed in protective custody, Loomis said.

As required by state law, Smith was “assigned to home duty” after her arrest, said Tim Van Eck, assistant superintendent of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District. Smith will continue to be paid pending the outcome of an investigation based on the criminal case, Van Eck said.

Smith faces eight charges of child molestation. Her arraignment is scheduled for March 28 in Municipal Court in Fullerton. All of the felony counts pertained to one youth.