PSHS teacher accused of trying to seduce student makes bail

Palm Springs police officers arrested a Palm Springs High School teacher Thursday afternoon on suspicion of sending inappropriate text messages to a 15-year-old male student.

Ronald Steven Bishop, 40, was taken into custody about 3 p.m. in the high school’s campus parking lot, “without incident,” according to Palm Springs police Sergeant Mike Kovaleff.

“The arrest was went down without incident,” said Kovaleff. “It was low key. The suspect was transported to here, to the station (in Palm Springs) and then Riverside County Jail in Banning.”

The investigation started on Monday, when police detectives got a report of a child annoyance involving the teenage victim. Bishop is an English teacher at the school, and the alleged victim is in one of his classes.

Kovaleff said Bishop is suspected of texting the victim over the last two months with the intent of seducing him. The messages are described as “harmful matter.”

“At some point the parents found out,” said Kovaleff. “I don’t know if the victim disclosed or they discovered on their own and they brought it to our detectives.”

Detectives served search warrants on Bishop’s home, car, and cellphone after his arrest Thursday.

A statement released by Palm Springs Unified School District Joan Boiko late Thursday evening indicated Bishop was on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

“We cannot comment any further, as this is a personnel matter.”

Police say the district and the victim’s family are fully cooperating with the investigation. However, they say the investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information on the case is asked to call Valley Crimestoppers at 760-341-STOP.

Bishop has worked at Palm Springs High School since 2006 and before that at Nellie Coffman Middle School from 2004-2006. Bishop made bail Friday morning and was released and due back in court for his arraignment March 15th.