Modesto police announced today that they have arrested former Enochs High School teacher Christopher James Hooker (booking photo at left) on suspicion of sexual abuse of a minor.
Hooker had resigned his job and moved in with an 18-year-old student, Jordan Powers, in a case that brought widespread media attention to Modesto in February. The two have denied dating when the student was a minor.
Police arrested Hooker on one count of oral copulation with a minor in a case that is unrelated to the Jordan Powers case.
Angered by the news of the 41-year-old teacher who moved in with an 18-year-old student, Assemblywoman Kristin Olsen, R-Modesto, has announced legislation to make it a felony for a K-12 teacher to date a student regardless of age. Hooker left his wife, resigned from his job and moved in with Powers.
"I believe this bill will serve as a deterrent, as a preventative measure," said Tammie Powers, Jordan's mother, at a Capitol press conference when the legislation was announced March 27. "As parents, we send our children to school with the expectation that they're going to be safe, they're going to receive a good education. Not that they're going to be pursued."
Read the Modesto Bee story on the arrest.
PHOTOS: Modesto Bee: California teacher resigns after leaving wife, kids for student, 18
Here is the text of today's Modesto police press release:
Modesto Police Detectives arrest a former Enochs High School teacher for sexual abuse of a minor.
On Friday, April 6th, detectives from the Modesto Police Department's Special Victims Unit arrested Christopher James Hooker for one count of oral copulation with a minor. This case came to light during the course of a separate investigation involving Hooker.
Detectives initially began to investigate Hooker after the mother of an Enochs High School student reported an alleged inappropriate relationship between her 18-year-old daughter, who was a student at Enochs High School, and Hooker, who was a teacher at Enochs High School.
During the course of this investigation, detectives discovered a separate victim who was involved in a prior romantic relationship with Hooker when she was a 17-year-old high school student. This incident occurred in 1998 when Hooker was a teacher at Davis High School in Modesto. It was alleged, Hooker befriended the victim, and developed a romantic relationship with the minor. During which time, Hooker sexually assaulted the then 17-year-old victim.
Investigators obtained evidence, which corroborates the victim's allegations and detectives were able to obtain an arrest warrant for Hooker.
Detectives arrested Hooker at his Modesto home and booked him into the Stanislaus County Jail for one count of oral copulation with a minor. The initial investigation against Hooker remains open.
If you have any information regarding these incidents, police encourage you to call Detective Steve Anderson at (209) 342-8173 or call Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Tipsters can also text information to Crime Stoppers by sending a text message to 274637. Just type "TIP704" along with your message.
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