The Turlock Police Department arrested a former teacher on sexual misconduct charges after learning he began a relationship with the victim, who is now his wife, when she was just 15 years old. It's not the first time the man has faced similar chargesβeven garnering national attention years ago. Turlock police said year-old James Hooker was arrested on Tuesday by the Ceres Police Department in connection with a juvenile molestation case.
He is now out on bail and due in court in January. Officials said the investigation began in May, when the victim, who is now an adult, encountered officers in an unrelated incident but told them that her four-year relationship with Hooker began when she was a year-old middle school student. The victim told police that she met Hooker through social media, and their relationship continued until she turned 18, when they got married.
He knew her age and, they started engaging in sexual misconduct and then eventually they got married when she turned 18," said Detective Frank Navarro, who was assigned to the case. The department noted that Hooker was previously involved in highly publicized relationships with young women. More than a decade ago, Hooker made national headlines when he left his family and his job as a teacher at Enochs High School due to a relationship he had with a student.
Amid the attention, another victim came forward, stating that in she was involved in a relationship with Hooker when she was The woman told police that in , when she was a high school student, Hooker at the time was teaching at Davis High School, also in Modesto. In that case, involving famed attorney Gloria Allred, he ultimately entered a no-contest plea to a misdemeanor charge of oral copulation.
He was sentenced to four years of probation and was made to register as a sex offender for life. However, Turlock police said Hooker's placement on the sex offender registration only lasted the duration of his probation. Because of the previous cases, the Turlock Police Department said they believe there may be other victims who have not come forward. We believe there could be other victims out there, and we will continue to follow every lead to ensure justice is served.
