Barstow teacher faces charges of molestation, oral copulation with student

Deputies from the Barstow Sheriff's Station arrested a high school teacher accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old female student.

Katherine Oneill, 51, of Barstow is employed with Barstow Unified School District as a teacher at Barstow High School. She has been on administrative leave since October 2018 but investigators responded to a counter report at the school regarding the inappropriate relationship on March 14, 2019, the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Office said.

Detectives from Crimes Against Children interviewed the victim regarding the allegation of sexual abuse.

Authorities say Oneill and the 16-year-old teen engaged in a sexual relationship in which Oneill texted the student obscene matter.

Oneil was arrested on March 15, 2019 and booked at High Desert Detention Center in the city of Adelanto. Authorities say Oneill posted bail, set at $100,000, over the weekend and was released from custody.

Oneill faces charges of sending harmful matter to a minor, annoy and molest, oral copulation with a minor, and penetration with a foreign object.

Detectives believe there may be other victims. They're urging anyone with information on this case to call the Specialized Investigation Division, Crimes Against Children Detail, Deputy Gerania Navarro at 909-387-3615 or Detective Brian Grimm at 760-256-4838.