Anaheim police investigate teacher accused of fathering child with student 35 years ago – San Bernardino Sun

Anaheim police are investigating a 61-year-old music teacher after two women accused him of having an inappropriate relationship with them while they were students together at Loara High School in the 1980s, authorities said Friday, Sept. 13.

Steve Graves, who most recently worked as a music teacher at Lexington Junior High School, was placed on leave from the Anaheim Union High School District on Aug. 29, three days after a woman told Anaheim officials she had an intimate relationship with him about 35 years ago, Anaheim Sergeant Matt Sutter said.

During their investigation, sex offender investigators came across a second woman who also had a relationship with Graves and with whom he had a child, Sutter said. A DNA test confirmed that Graves was the father, the sergeant said.

As of Friday, September 13, Graves had not been arrested as Anaheim detectives worked with the Orange County District Attorney's Office to determine what charges, if any, could be filed under the statute of limitations.

“We know it happened. The question now is whether or not we can press charges against him,” Sutter said.

DA spokeswoman Kimberly Edds confirmed that prosecutors were aware of the allegations against the two women, but concluded that they could not charge Graves with possible crimes against them because any possible crime would be statute-barred.

If more potential victims come forward, Edds said prosecutors would review their allegations to determine whether any of the crimes are statute-barred.

Both women identified Graves and were minors at the time of the alleged relationship, Sutter said.

Detectives contacted Graves and Sutter said he did not deny that the child was his.

During his tenure in the school district, Graves also taught at Ball Junior High School.

In a statement to the public, school officials described themselves as “shocked, saddened and dismayed” when they learned of the allegations against Graves.

District officials said “termination proceedings are ongoing” and that his actions would be reported to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

The district said the allegations appeared in social media posts.

“The safety of our students is our highest priority on all of our campuses,” the district's statement said. “We extend our condolences to these two former students. We appreciate them reaching out to the district. We also know that colleagues and parents are deeply saddened and concerned by these developments.”

Police are asking anyone with information about the case to call detectives at 714-765-1623. Anonymous tips can be made through Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS.