A Hartnell College instructor has been arrested and charged with trying to arrange a meeting with a minor. The allegation is the meetup was for the purpose of having sex with the minor.Valentin Rico Rodriguez, 62, was contacted by Santa Cruz police Tuesday on the Santa Cruz wharf as part of a sting operation that targeted the Hartnell instructor.Rodriguez was booked into the Santa Cruz County jail on one felony charge of penal code 288.4(B). That code is defined as the intent to arrange a meeting with a minor under the age of 18 with the intent to engage in sexual conduct at the meeting.According to the Hartnell college directory, Rodriguez is listed as an instructor with the college’s automotive/diesel technology. It appears that division is with the college’s career technical education/workforce development.Hartnell college released the following statement surrounding the arrest of one of their own:”We informed our college community yesterday that a Hartnell employee was arrested June 7 at an off-campus location while off duty. This investigation is being pursued by law enforcement. The college has initiated appropriate actions but will not comment further on this personnel matter.”
A Hartnell College instructor has been arrested and charged with trying to arrange a meeting with a minor. The allegation is the meetup was for the purpose of having sex with the minor.
Valentin Rico Rodriguez, 62, was contacted by Santa Cruz police Tuesday on the Santa Cruz wharf as part of a sting operation that targeted the Hartnell instructor.
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Rodriguez was booked into the Santa Cruz County jail on one felony charge of penal code 288.4(B). That code is defined as the intent to arrange a meeting with a minor under the age of 18 with the intent to engage in sexual conduct at the meeting.
According to the Hartnell college directory, Rodriguez is listed as an instructor with the college’s automotive/diesel technology. It appears that division is with the college’s career technical education/workforce development.
Hartnell college released the following statement surrounding the arrest of one of their own:
“We informed our college community yesterday that a Hartnell employee was arrested June 7 at an off-campus location while off duty. This investigation is being pursued by law enforcement. The college has initiated appropriate actions but will not comment further on this personnel matter.”
Contributed by local news sources
