The Gilroy High School math teacher accused of having sex with a girl less than half his age appeared in court today but his plea hearing was continued to the end of next month.
Morgan Hill resident Alberto Gomez Vicuna Jr., 32, performed multiple sex acts with a 14-year-old girl and faces nine counts of sex crimes and up to 10 years in state prison, said Deputy District Attorney Ray Mendoza of the Sexual Assault Unit. Vicuna's bail was set at $2 million and he remains in police custody.
A plea hearing has been scheduled for 2 p.m. April 30 in Department 23 of San Jose's Hall of Justice.
Vicuna was arrested Feb. 25 near his home in Morgan Hill after the girl's parents told police that Vicuna was having sex with a minor. The girl was not a GHS student but attended a high school in San Jose, Mendoza said. She met Vicuna through an Internet social networking site, Tagged.com.
In addition to the profile he maintained under his real name and age, Vicuna was also posing as a 15-year-old boy, Juan G, and had more than 100 female friends between the ages of 13 and 17 under that alias, Mendoza said. Consequently, Mendoza and police believe there may be more than just the one victim.
"We're trying to contact as many people as we can," Mendoza said. "Our concern is that there could be more victims out there."
If you have additional information on this case, you can call Detective Kendra Nunes or Detective Sgt. Randy Schriefer of the San Jose Police Dept's Child Exploitation Detail at 277-4102. Persons wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 947-STOP.
Sara Suddes Sara Suddes is the education reporter for South Valley Newspapers. Send her an email or (408) 847-7158.
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