News

Indio school security guard arrested on suspicion of crimes involving student

Published March 22, 2018 12:30 AM

A Desert Sands security guard has been arrested by Indio police for crimes involving a student. The security guard works at Desert Ridge Academy in Indio, according to the victim’s mother.

According to Mary Perry, Spokesperson for Desert Sands Unified School District, “A student filed a complaint that James Arthur Campbell, a security guard with the district, was exchanging inappropriate messages with the student.

Earlier this week, the victim’s mother reportedly discovered the inappropriate messages on the victim’s phone and notified the school district.

The school and district acted immediately and began an investigation. The District put Campbell on administrative leave immediately and contacted the Indio Police Department to begin its investigation.

Perry added that the “District is assisting with the investigation, and no other statement will be released from the district at this time, while the DA’s office investigates the charges, and or charges him.”

According to jail records 45-year old Campbell was arrested on charges of exchanging harmful matter with a minor, a felony, and 2 misdemeanor charges including harassing by telephone and annoy/molest children.

Campbell is a resident of Bermuda Dunes.

He was being held on 30,000 dollar bail but has since bailed out. He is scheduled to be arraigned May 16 at the Larson Justice Center in Indio.