Judge Declares Mistrial in Teacher’s Case
A judge declared a mistrial Thursday in the case of a Canyon High School teacher accused of making obscene phone calls to his students.
Newhall Municipal Judge Cynthia Ulfig declared the mistrial after jurors deadlocked on nine of 10 counts against English teacher Patrick Roy Hughes. Hughes was acquitted on one charge of making annoying telephone calls.
Prosecutors said they plan to refile charges against Hughes, who faced five misdemeanor counts each of child molestation and making annoying phone calls after five students at the Canyon Country high school said they believed he was the anonymous caller who made sexually suggestive comments to them over the telephone.
Both Hughes and his attorney declined to comment on the case. Hughes is on unpaid leave from his teaching position; it was unclear
Thursday whether he would return to the classroom.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
