Registered Sex Offender Enrolls At High Desert High School

“Everyone’s afraid because this is an unpredictable situation,” said Angelia Mays, a mother with a freshman son at Yucca Valley High School.

Mays said she was completely shocked when she got a letter from Morongo Unified School District this week explaining a registered sex offender had enrolled at the high school.

Authorities said Steven Holt, 18, was convicted as a juvenile for sexually assaulting girls 6 to 15 years old, including one disabled girl.

Holt’s family recently moved from Wisconsin to the high desert area of Southern California. Administrators confirmed Holt enrolled at Yucca Valley High this month..

The school district said Holt was on campus for a few days, but he hasn’t attended classes this week.

Holt was classified as a special needs student and the school district was trying to make a decision on his future — which could mean he’ll take classes elsewhere.

But if Holt does return to the high school, administrators said they’ll take precautions.

“There’s been staff assigned to make sure there’s staff near him the entire day. There’s also staff that assists when he rides the school bus home until he gets into his residence,” said Tom Baumgarten, assistant superintendent with Morongo Unified.

But that does little to comfort parents like Mays.

“This guy says he drinks. That’s on his Facebook. I didn’t create that. I’m saying there’s a lot of unanswered questions about this guy. I think he’s more capable than they give him credit for. You think they’re talking about a guy in a wheelchair and that’s not the case,” said Mays.

So, why would a registered sex offender — now an adult — be allowed on this campus?

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said he’s in compliance and lawfully able to attend classes.

“This is a very unique situation because he is an adult, but he is still a student here. So he has lawful business at the school and he can come here every day and attend class,” said Cindy Bachman, a spokesperson with the sheriff’s department.

As of now, Holt is not listed on the Megan’s Law website.

Authorities say the Department of Justice will review his criminal history and whether or not he belongs on the site.