A high school music teacher in San Diego was arrested Wednesday, accused of having a sexual relationship with a male student five years ago – when that student was a teenager.
The Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD), said Jason Mangan-Magabilin, 38, was taken into custody and booked into county jail on suspicion of nine counts of oral copulation with a minor under 18 and four other counts of sex with a minor.
Police said Mangan-Magabilin is a music teacher at Bonita Vista High School. The Sweetwater Union High School District is fully cooperating with the police investigation, the CVPD said Thursday. The school district is also conducting its own internal personnel investigation on the case.
Mangan-Magabilin referred NBC 7 San Diego to his lawyer for a statement, who said they are not ready to talk about the case yet.
CVPD Capt. Lon Turner said the teacher’s alleged relationship happened five years ago with a former student, when that student was between 15 and 17 years old.
The victim recently reported the incident to police because of mandatory reporting at job training.
Police told NBC 7 San Diego they have physical evidence in the case, but would not specify what physical evidence they have.
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Further details were not immediately released.
The Sweetwater Union High School District released this statement Thursday concerning the case:
"We appreciate that the public has many questions regarding the recent arrests in the District pertaining to alleged inappropriate contacts between students and staff. The District is currently actively working with law enforcement on each of these matters. The District is committed to assisting law enforcement and conducting thorough personnel investigations in each matter, so we are not able to provide further comment at this time."
"We appreciate your understanding and respect of the District’s commitment to protect the integrity of all pending investigations during these challenging circumstances. We ask that you allow our staff to focus their attention during these trying times on the learning environment of our students," the statement continued.
A website for the Club Blue Instrumental Music Program at Bonita Vista High School includes a short biography on Mangan-Magabilin. The bio says he has been with the school for 10 years, and also conducts the Crusader Girls Chorus at Bonita Vista Middle School.
He’s an alumnus of the University of Southern California, where he performed as a member of the Trojan Marching Band. He also earned a master’s degree in conduction from the American Band College of Sam Houston State in 2013.
