Downey teacher charged with having sex with student

A Downey High School teacher and coach was charged Tuesday with 15 felony counts involving unlawful sexual acts with a female student at the school, officials said.

Brandon Hitchcock, 30, who also serves as Downey High’s girls soccer coach, was arrested Friday in connection with allegations he had a sexual relationship with a student when she was a junior and senior.

Hitchcock was charged Tuesday with 10 counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and five counts of oral copulation of the minor, said Sarah Ardalani, a district attorney’s spokeswoman. She said the alleged sexual acts occurred this year between March and October.

Downey police began investigating the allegation after the high school reported the teacher’s alleged behavior to authorities. Sources familiar with the investigation said Hitchcock committed many of alleged sex acts inside the classroom where he teaches.

The sources spoke on condition of anonymity because they were unauthorized to publicly discuss the probe.

Ardalani said that investigators are aware of one victim but are trying to determine if there are others.

Hitchcock was being held in lieu of $1 million bail. He is expected to appear in court for an arraignment Tuesday afternoon.

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