Former Monterey County teacher arrested after alleged sexual misconduct with student
WOODLAND, Calif. (KION-TV) -- A teacher in Woodland, California was arrested for alleged sexual misconduct with a student from North Monterey County High School.
25-year-old Mika Yoneda was arrested after Monterey County's Sheriff's Office received a report from a former juvenile male student who had been a victim of sexual misconduct. Upon investigation from the Sheriff's Office, Yoneda was identified as the teacher in question.
Yoneda was a former teacher at North Monterey County High School in Castroville from 2022 to 2023 when the alleged sexual misconduct began. She since began working at Woodland High School thereafter.
During her time in Monterey County, Yoneda also worked as a private tutor alongside her role as a teacher.
Monterey County Sheriff-Coroner Tina Nieto spoke on the arrest speaking on how these moments in time can break the trust of not only students, but the parents.
"Our parents in our county have to be able to trust the school system," Nieto said. "They have to be able to trust teachers, educators. That the teachers and educators are going to protect their children. That's the expectation they have of us."
In a press release, Monterey County Sheriff's Office states they are not aware of any incidents involving students from the Woodland area.
The Woodland Joint Unified School District also released the following statement to KION:
"The safety of our students and staff is our number one priority. At this time, we are not aware of any WJUSD students who are connected to this criminal investigation. However, we are cooperating with the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and the teacher has been placed on administrative leave pending the results of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office investigation. Anyone with information that may be related to this investigation is encouraged to contact Detective Sergeant Nicholas Kennedy of the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office at (831) 755-3773."
Yoneda is being held on a bail of $1.5 million.
