Anaheim police are investigating a 61-year-old band teacher after two women accused him of having inappropriate relationships with them while they were students of his at Loara High School in the 1980s, authorities said on Friday, Sept. 13.
Steve Graves, who most recently was working as a band teacher at Lexington Junior High School, was placed on administrative leave by the Anaheim Union High School District on Aug. 29, three days after a woman came forward to tell Anaheim officers she had an intimate relationship with him about 35 years ago, Anaheim Sgt. Matt Sutter said.
During their investigation, sexual-assault detectives found a second woman who also had a relationship with Graves and that one had a child with him, Sutter said. Graves was confirmed to be the father through a DNA test, the sergeant said.
Graves had not been arrested as of Friday, Sept. 13, as Anaheim detectives work with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office to determine what charges, if any, can be filed based on the statute of limitations.
“We know it happened, it’s whether we can charge him or not,” Sutter said.
Both of the women identified Graves and both were minors at the time of the alleged relationships, Sutter said.
Detectives contacted Graves, and Sutter said he didn’t deny the child is his.
During his tenure with the school district, Graves has also taught at Ball Junior High School.
The school district planned to send out a statement to the community Friday afternoon, spokesman Jose Bautista said.
“We entrust our children with the care and safety while they’re with their teachers and something like this is very disturbing for any parent,” Sutter said.
Police asked anyone with information about the case to call detectives at 714-765-1623. Anonymous tips can be made by calling Orange County Crime Stoppers at 855-TIP-OCCS.
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