Athletic trainer accused of sexually assaulting high school student, California cops say

An athletic and physical trainer at a high school in Lake Balboa has been arrested on accusations that he inappropriately touched a student, authorities in California say.

Richard Turner, a staff member at Birmingham Community Charter High School, was arrested on Sept. 21 with charges of forcible penetration with a foreign object, according to a news release by the Los Angeles Police Department.

Police received a call on Sept. 20 that a minor reported Turner had “inappropriately touched” them. Upon investigation, LAPD believes Turner inappropriately touched another minor in 2017 while he was working at Van Nuys High School, according to the news release.

“Richard Turner’s alleged conduct is reprehensible and totally contrary to Birmingham Community Charter High School’s mission, values and the way we run our school.” Principle of Birmingham High School Ari Bennett to McClatchy News. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the student and student’s family who have been impacted by this. As always, our focus is on providing our students with a safe learning environment and the academic and developmental support they need to be successful students at Birmingham and beyond.”

He is currently being held on a $100,000 bail at the LAPD Valley Jail in Van Nuys, according to KTLA.

“Birmingham is cooperating with law enforcement during the course of its investigation. Given privacy and other concerns we are not able to make any further comment at the present time,” Bennett told McClatchy News.

LAPD is urging anyone else who may have been a victim to contact Juvenile Division detectives at 818-374-5415.

Lake Balboa is a suburb of Los Angeles.

This story was originally published September 22, 2022 at 4:19 PM with the headline "Athletic trainer accused of sexually assaulting high school student, California cops say."