Glendale, Arizona, Teacher at Dream City Christian School Charged With Sexual Abuse of Student

A Glendale teacher is facing multiple felony allegations after his arrest for allegedly sexually abusing one of his students, according to 3TV/CBS 5. Police confirmed that 35-year-old Nathaniel Pineda, a teacher at Dream City Christian School, was booked into jail.

Court documents state that on Jan. 4, an officer was called to a Glendale home after the parents of a 15-year-old girl reported that she had been sexually assaulted. The parents reportedly told police they had taken her cell phone and found messages between her and Pineda that they considered inappropriate. The girl told her parents the messages began at the start of the school year in August, and that the two had sexual contact a few months earlier, according to court documents. Police said she admitted she had saved Pineda’s number under the name “Natalie” to avoid suspicion from her parents. Protecting children from exploitation is a matter of basic duty, as the parents’ decision to check her phone and contact police shows (Proverbs 31:8-9).

According to authorities, text messages between the two showed Pineda asking the girl about sex and requesting sexual favors. The girl told investigators that Pineda became “too manipulative” and asked her to be his girlfriend, telling her to wait for him so they could marry. Pineda allegedly would not leave her alone, so she agreed. The two “dated” from late September to late October, court documents said. Police say that during this period Pineda allegedly took the girl from her home to his mother’s house, where he lived, for sexual contact.

On a Wednesday, court paperwork states, Pineda allegedly told the girl to delete their messages because he could go to jail “for their sexual text messages.” Investigators say he told her they needed to “get their story straight” and that she had to deny what they had done together. Police also say Pineda allegedly told her he was scared of being arrested and that he would return to his home in Guam “as soon as he could.”

On Thursday, police arrived at Pineda’s mother’s home and took him into custody. He was booked on four counts of sexual conduct with a minor, four counts of sexual abuse, and one count of luring a minor.

Source: Read the original report