Central High School teacher arrested for allegedly having sex with a minor

FRESNO COUNTY (KFSN) -- Not long after Michael Morton was taken to jail by deputies, he posted a $50,000 bond and was back at his Tower District home.

Morton is out of a job following his arrest on one count of unlawful sex with a minor. Central Unified District Officials declined to answer questions Friday about whether Morton quit or was fired. A spokeswoman only said he is no longer an employee.

Sheriff's officials said they received a good statement from the victim Wednesday, after receiving a tip about the inappropriate contact. Deputies immediately began an investigation and found out the two became acquainted while he was a teacher. But the alleged crime happened after she graduated but was still a minor.

"We don't have any information that they were in any sort of a loving relationship prior to what happened to the summer of 15, all we know is that the two knew each other fairly well. Something developed, escalated," said Tony Botti, Fresno County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies don't know why it took two years for the allegations to be brought to their attention, but they believe it's possible there could be more victims who have not come forward.

"Typically in these cases, when word gets out, a lot of times it makes the victims more comfortable knowing there's somebody else out there feeling the pain that they went through," said Botti.

Morton was the head of the math department and has taught at Central West for more than 10 years.