Middle school teacher arrested for child sexual assault in Coachella
An Indio man arrested for sexually assaulting a child from 2002 through 2003 is a teacher at a middle school in Thermal.
50-year-old Marco Antonio Cardenas was booked several felony charges related to sexual assault on a child.
News Channel 3 has confirmed that he is a teacher at Toro Canyon Middle School in Thermal.
“We can confirm that he is an employee of the District. As far as the District is aware, the allegations do not involve any CVUSD students,” Coachella Valley Unified School District Superintended Maria Gandera wrote in an email statement to News Channel. “However, we take all allegations very seriously and will cooperate with local law enforcement if called upon to do so.”
ORIGINAL STORY: Local man accused in child sexual assault from 2002 to 2003
Gandera also sad that there would be no further comments on the matter because the police investigation is active and it is a district personnel matter.
According to county jail records, Cardenas was arrested on Bagdad Avenue in Coachella by deputies assigned to La Quinta on August 7.
According to RSO, earlier this month, the Thermal Sheriff’s Station received a report of Lewd Acts upon a child which had allegedly been committed in La Quinta. Investigators later determined the sexual assault occurred between 2002 and 2003.
No other information on the incident has been released at this time, stay with News Channel 3 for continuing developments.
The investigation remains ongoing, investigators ask that anyone with further information contact Investigator Berryman at (760) 863-8950. You can also submit a tip using the Sheriff’s CrimeTips online form, click here to visit that page.
