Ex-Granite Hills High teacher convicted of sex charges involving student

EL CAJON (CNS) – A former Granite Hills High School teacher convicted of charges related to sexual misconduct involving an underage former female student was sentenced Wednesday to six months in prison, although he remains free pending an appeal in his case.

Gerald Lopez, 56, who taught English and coached sports at the East County school, was arrested by El Cajon police in 2022 after the mother of the then 17-year-old victim discovered a series of text messages between her daughter and Lopez .

Lopez was convicted by an El Cajon jury last month of possession of child pornography and harassing or molesting a child.

The same jury acquitted Lopez of more than a dozen other charges and hung five counts of sending harmful material to a minor. Superior Court Judge John Thompson dismissed the remaining stalled counts.

On Wednesday, Thompson sentenced Lopez to 180 days in jail and two years of formal probation, including an “expanded” Fourth Amendment waiver condition that allows police to search Lopez without a warrant or probable cause, including his electronics and social media, according to the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office Diego County.

Prosecutors said Lopez will be allowed to remain out of custody pending his appeal, despite his objection.

During the trial, Deputy District Attorney Josh Brisbane told jurors that Lopez exchanged sexually motivated text messages and photos with the girl over the course of several months, while Lopez’s attorney, Robert Boyce, argued his client had no intention to pursue something with the girl. until after she turned 18.

After the girl’s mother discovered the text messages, she reported them to the school. Lopez was initially placed on unpaid leave, but school district officials announced in August 2022 that he no longer worked for the district.