A south valley teacher is behind bars accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student. Eric Ford is a teacher at Golden West High School in Visalia.
It started with a phone call, the information led Visalia police to Eric Ford, a business teacher at Golden West High School.
"We received a call of an inappropriate relationship between a teacher at Golden West and a juvenile that went to that same school."
Police haven't revealed many details, they say Ford had sex with a 17-year-old student and it may have happened several times. Officers made the arrest Sunday morning.
"It just makes me feel really uncomfortable," said Haley Gregory, a sophomore at the school. She didn't have any classes with Ford but says the news still bothers her. "They're supposed to teach us and they're doing things with kids like people who I probably know from school...It's just weird."
Her mom, Betty Aboytes says it's a violation of trust. "These kids have enough stress, drama and chaos in the world, at home, at school with friends, to be having to worry about a teacher seducing them? It's not okay."
Students who knew Ford say he's a good teacher. They say his wife also works at the school and they have two daughters.
"It makes you wonder what's wrong with that individual."
Parents like Jennifer Vandebrink have questions, questions only the school and police can answer. "It puts doubt in your mind, it puts doubt in security, it puts doubt in the school, in everybody. All the teachers because you wonder how long had it gone on."
Eric Ford is expected to be in court soon.
TXT 24
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