Teacher Cited Over His Photos of Student

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 was ordered via a mailed citation to appear in court July 14. If he is 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 that he wanted to take “test” photos of her. Bunting and the girl went to his office, where the impromptu photo shoot took place, said Det. Terance Kibodeaux of the Los Angeles Police Department.

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.

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, said district spokeswoman Hilda Ramirez. He was football coach at Monroe in 1997 and 1998, guiding the Vikings to a 12-10 overall record. He unexpectedly resigned in July 1999, citing health reasons.

Bunting was transferred from Monroe High in Mission Hills to the district’s 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.”

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Times staff writer Kristina Sauerwein contributed to this story.