Teacher caught sending explicit texts to ’14-year-old,’ trying to meet up, CA cops say
A middle school teacher has been arrested after he was accused of sending sexually explicit text messages to a “14-year-old boy” and suggesting they meet, California police say.
Eric Reid Zuercher, a teacher at Sierra Vista Middle School, was arrested on multiple counts stemming from a text message conversation with who he thought was a teenage boy, the Irvine Police Department said in a Jan. 6 news release.
In an emailed statement to McClatchy News, an Irvine Unified School District spokesperson said Zuercher was placed on administrative leave and is prohibited from contacting students.
“Our top priority is the safety and well-being of our students,” the spokesperson said. “We have a zero-tolerance policy for behavior that does not support our values, commitment to integrity, or the safety of our students.”
“A private group that exposes persons engaging in online criminal behavior” contacted Irvine police Sunday, Jan. 5, the department said.
The group told police its members communicated with a man, later identified as 44-year-old Zuercher, while posing as a 14-year-old boy.
During their text exchange, the messages “turned sexual in nature,” and Zuercher asked the boy if he would be willing to meet, according to police.
Before the group called police, they approached Zuercher at his home to talk with him, police said. Zuercher spoke with the group briefly before going inside his home and closing the door.
After detectives got a warrant, they arrested Zuercher at his home, police said.
He was booked into jail on counts of “attempting to converse with a minor to meet and engage in sexual activity,” police said.
Zuercher is a math teacher at Sierra Vista Middle School, according to the school’s website.
Police said they worked with the district and that “there is no evidence” Zuercher has had inappropriate contact with students.
Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to contact Detective Brian Felling at 949-724-7189 or bfelling@cityofirvine.org.
This story was originally published January 7, 2025 at 10:26 AM with the headline "Teacher caught sending explicit texts to ’14-year-old,’ trying to meet up, CA cops say."
