EL MONTE >> An Arroyo High School science teacher and former head of the science department was arrested Tuesday for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a student for the past six months, police said.
Richard Paul Daniels, 56, of Rancho Cucamonga, was booked on suspicion of forcible acts of sexual penetration, sodomy and lewd acts on a child.
On Tuesday morning, school officials told an El Monte Police school resource officer about an alleged inappropriate contact between a female student and a teacher, Senior Detective Carlos Molina said in a statement.
Molina said the investigation determined that over the last six months, the teacher had a sexual relationship with the student. He identified the teacher as Daniels.
Police didn’t say where the alleged incidents occurred, the age of the student, where Daniels was arrested and why his bail is $6.8 million.
El Monte Union High School District received information on Tuesday that an Arroyo High teacher was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a student and immediately contacted police, Superintendent Irella Perez said in a statement.
She said Daniels was placed on administrative leave.
“The minor student is safe and cooperating fully with authorities,” Perez said. “The district has reached out to the student and her family and will provide a course of study to ensure the student’s education is not interrupted.”
Daniels has worked for the district since September 1999. District staff said he was chairman of the science department at Arroyo High two years ago. There are 2,238 students enrolled at the high school at 4921 Cedar Ave.
Booking records show Daniels was being held at the Inmate Reception Center in Los Angeles on $6.8 million bail. Police said he will be arraigned Thursday at Pomona Superior Courthouse.
Detectives are looking for other possible victims. Anyone with information regarding recent or past inappropriate contact with Daniels is asked to call the El Monte Police Department at 626-580-2109. Tips also can be sent via email to tips@empd.org.
This article has been updated to correct the location of the Inmate Reception Center.
