Former Tulare Union Spanish teacher charged with five felonies for alleged sex abuse of two students

TULARE, Calif. (KFSN) -- Detectives arrested 44-year-old Juan Sanchez at his home in Delano on Friday. It's not the first time Sanchez has had his booking photo taken.

He was arrested in March after Tulare Police say he had a four-week long sexual relationship with an underage female student at Tulare Union High School earlier this year.

But Sanchez was released from jail after the Tulare County District Attorney's office decided not to file charges, requesting further investigation from Tulare Police.

Since then, the investigation has continued, and police found an additional victim. The complaint against Sanchez alleges he abused her between November of 2011 and August of 2012.

"Through the investigation search warrants were written, and through the search warrants and the evidence collected, the evidence was able to corroborate the victim's statements as to what occurred," said Tulare Police Sgt. Andy Garcia.

Like the first victim, Garcia says the sexual acts took place on the school's campus. Sanchez is charged with five felonies and two misdemeanors for the inappropriate relationships. He faces more than five years in prison, and one year in jail if convicted of the charges.

"Now there's a second victim coming out of seemingly nowhere after six years of being silent and reporting she too was a victim," said Sara Bratsch, Sanchez' attorney. "I find the timing to be interesting, especially in light of this case getting media attention."

"We don't know truly how many victims there are, if additional, or if it was just the two, or that there's three," Garcia said.

Police say Sanchez was a Spanish teacher at Tulare Union for seven years. But Tulare Joint Union High School District officials say Sanchez no longer works for the district.

He was arraigned Monday and will have a bail reduction hearing on July 12th. His bail is currently set at $740,000.

"You will have scores of people at court, supporting him, not only students, but mentors, and people from his school," Bratsch said. "His family, under the circumstances, is doing alright."