Teacher Denies Sex With Student
A teacher at a Catholic high school in Ventura has pleaded not guilty to charges of having sex with a 17-year-old student several years ago, according to court records.
John E. Statham, 55, entered the not guilty plea Tuesday during arraignment in Ventura County Superior Court. Statham, an English teacher and track coach at St. Bonaventure High School since 1994, is charged with two counts of oral copulation with a person under 18.
Statham was arrested last week outside his Camarillo home after a former student told police that she had had sexual relations with Statham when she was a senior at the school.
Statham is free on $500,000 bail.
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