High school counselor charged with sexual assault – NBC Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Police Department is searching for additional possible victims of a high school counselor who was arrested for allegedly sexually abusing a student in West Los Angeles.

Julie Tichon, 37, was arrested in August after being accused of sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy between February and March of this year. Police say she was a former guidance counselor at Yula High School, where she met the victim. Authorities believe the assaults took place off school grounds.

Tikhon is accused of, among other things, three counts of illicit sexual intercourse with a minor and one count of oral sex with a person under 18 years of age.

Investigators learned of the allegations after the boy told his parents about the alleged assaults. His parents then reported the teacher to Yula High School and law enforcement.

“One of the biggest problems with juvenile justice cases is that often the kids don't realize they were victims of crime until years later,” said Brent Hopkins, a detective supervisor with the LAPD. “Either they didn't know it was wrong, or if they do know, they have some problem disclosing themselves.”

Tikhon, who worked at the school for four years, no longer works there, according to officials. If convicted, she faces five years in prison. She is due to appear in court again on November 1.

The school did not respond to NBC4's request for comment.

The police assume that there may be more victims and are calling on them to come forward.