Teacher Accused of Child Annoyance

Child annoyance charges have been filed against a Monroe High School teacher and former head football coach for allegedly taking provocative photos of a 15-year-old girl in the school’s physical education office, authorities said Tuesday.

The misdemeanor charge was filed by the Los Angeles city attorney’s office Friday against 44-year-old Sloan Bunting of La Crescenta. Bunting was not arrested but ordered via a mailed citation to appear in court July 14. If convicted, Bunting could face up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine.

The alleged victim--who went to police with her complaint--was a student in one of Bunting’s physical education classes, investigators said.

According to the girl, Bunting told her earlier this month that she looked like a model and he wanted to take “test” photos of her.

Both Bunting and the girl went to his office where the impromptu photo shoot occurred, Det. Terance Kibodeaux of the Los Angeles Police Department said.

Five pictures were taken of the victim in provocative poses but she never disrobed, Kibodeaux said.

“The way she was told to pose could be construed as child annoyance,” he said. “That would be inappropriate for a lady of her age.”

Police said the girl was visibly upset about the encounter and will receive counseling.

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Bunting worked as a teacher in the South Pasadena Unified School District from 1984 to 1986, said Richard Tauer, director of personnel for the district. He declined to discuss other details of Bunting’s employment, citing confidentiality concerns.

Bunting has worked for the Los Angeles Unified School District since August 1992, district spokeswoman Hilda Ramirez said. He was football coach at Monroe in 1997 and 1998, guiding the Vikings to a 12-10 overall record. He unexpectedly resigned last July, citing health reasons.

Bunting was transferred from Monroe High in North Hills to a district cluster office in the San Fernando Valley when the allegations surfaced two weeks ago. He has since been placed on unpaid administrative leave, Ramirez said.

Bunting could not be reached for comment. Cluster administrator Warren Mason said Bunting’s temporary reassignment followed district policy.

“If it is something we feel that may compromise children’s safety, we will remove that administrator from the site until the investigation concludes,” Mason said. “With our employees, we have due process. We don’t make personnel decisions on innuendo.”

Bunting is the third L.A. Unified employee arrested in recent months on sex-related charges.

A 61-year-old teacher at Liggett Street Elementary School in Panorama City was arrested in March on suspicion of molesting seven girls from 1968 to 1996. A 53-year-old janitor was arrested two weeks ago on suspicion of molesting as many as 11 girls at Kester Elementary in Van Nuys.

Both men are awaiting trial.

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Times staff writer Kristina Sauerwein contributed to this story.