School Security Guard Accused Of Molesting Students

A 45-year-old Desert Hot Springs middle school security guard was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of inappropriately touching two female students and telling several others he wanted them to have his baby.

Marvin Cash, who worked at Desert Springs Middle School on Two Bunch Palms Trail, was taken into custody at his home in the 65500 block of Acoma Avenue, said Sgt. Daniel Bressler of the Desert Hot Springs Police Department.

Cash faces felony counts of committing a lewd act with a child under 14 and sexual battery, as well as a misdemeanor charge of annoying or molesting a child.

The investigation began on March 23, when several girls came forward to report alleged incidents involving Cash, Bressler said.

A 13-year-old student alleged that Cash kissed her on the lips, grabbed her breast, exposed himself to her and made her touch him inappropriately in February, according to police Investigator Kris Arthur.

He also allegedly asked the teenager for a nude photo of herself, and told her he would pay for it, according to Arthur, who prepared a declaration in support of an arrest warrant.

A second student alleged that Cash grabbed her and hugged her, according to the investigator.

Five other students also came forward and claimed Cash told them he wanted the girls to have his child and made inappropriate comments about their bodies, according to the declaration.

Cash was taken to the city’s police department for questioning and was booked into the Riverside County Jail. He is now free after posting $50,000 bail.

The guard was placed on paid administrative when police informed the Palm Springs Unified School District of the allegations at the outset of the investigation, said district spokeswoman Joan Boiko.

She declined further comment, citing district policy on personnel matters, but the PSUSD sent home a note with students today:

Hello DSMS Families.I wanted to alert you to some news released by the Desert Hot Springs Police Department this afternoon. You may have heard that a few months ago, there was a complaint issued regarding a security guard on our campus. As soon as we were made aware of the complaint, the district took immediate action to place the employee on administrative leave and file the complaint with the police department. Today, we have learned that this employee was arrested at his home in connection with the allegations a lewd act on a child. Since this investigation is ongoing, DSMS staff members will not be able to answer questions or provide any additional information.. If you have any information related to this matter, please call Desert Hot Springs Police at (760) 329-6411.