[UPDATED with DA's Charges:] Richard Rack, Middle School Teacher, Accused of Sexy Time with 5 Girl Students

See update at the end of this post about the charges filed today against Richard John Rack by the Orange County District Attorney's office.


ORIGINAL POST, JUNE 25, 2:03 P.M.: Five girls claim a Huntington Beach San Clemente middle school teacher was sexually inappropriate around them, including one alleging lewd conduct, another who claims the 50-year-old convinced her to send him nude photos of herself and a third who swears they had sex.

Some alleged victims came forward after news broke that Richard John Rack of Shorecliffs Middle School had been arrested.
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That happened after a middle school student came forward way back on Nov. 30, 2010, to report to the Orange County Sheriff's Department that Rack asked her to wear low-cut blouses and said things to her such as “nice figure.” (You'd think Rack would say “Nice me.”)

The resulting investigation involved interviews with Rack's past and current students, including the one who reported the teacher asked for nudie photos of her.

The teacher was placed on administrative leave in December 2011, but he was not arrested until June 6, and he posted bond three days later. But a search of his phone records uncovered a third possible victim who said she had a sexual relationship with her teacher that continued after he made bail.

He was arrested a second time on Thursday, this time on suspicion of oral copulation of a
minor 16 years old or younger and lewd acts with a child 14 years old
or younger. After his mug shot from that arrest was publicized that same day, a fourth girl came forward with lewd act allegations against her former teacher.

Then, on Friday night, a fifth girl contacted investigations with sexual misconduct against Rack that happened a year ago, when she was 14 or under.

At last word Rack was being held in lieu of $250,000 bail. Meanwhile, investigators fear there may be even more victims and encourage anyone with information to call 855.TIP.OCCS or
855.847.6227.

UPDATE, JUNE 25, 3:15 P.M.: Filling in some of the blanks that led to the recent arrest and re-arrest of a middle school math teacher, the Orange County District Attorney's office (OCDA) announced today that Richard John Rack has been charged with sexually assaulting
an eighth grade female student while alone with her at Shorecliff Middle School in San Clemente.

The
San Clemente 50-year-old is now charged with five felony counts of lewd acts on a
child and one felony count of oral copulation of a minor under 16 for the case involving the eighth grader. He was previously charged with two
misdemeanor counts of child annoyance for alleged crimes involving two other female students.

Conviction on the felony counts could send Rack to state prison for up to six years
and four months, while the maximum sentence for the misdemeanor rap is two years in jail. He would also be eligible for lifetime registration as a sex offender.

The OCDA reports that Rack is now being held in lieu of $1
million bail, and he has a pre-trial hearing scheduled July 18 in Newport Beach.

Here is the OCDA breakdown on what allegedly happened at Shorecliffs Middle School:

Between April and November 2011, Rack is accused of engaging in
inappropriate, unlawfully annoying conduct toward two students at the
school, 13-year-olds Jane Doe #1 and Jane Doe #2. The defendant is
accused of hugging and making lewd comments to the victims. 

. . .


Between February 2009 and October 2010, Rack is accused of sexually
assaulting 14-year-old Jane Doe #3 including lewd touching and oral
copulation. He is accused of primarily sexually assaulting the victim
while alone with her on campus.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department investigation into Rack is ongoing, as is the OCDA's. According to the prosecutors' statement, anyone with additional information or who
believes they have been a victim of the teacher is asked to contact Supervising
District Attorney Investigator Lou Gutierrez at 714.347.8794.

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