Orange County school employee, 32, admits to 'dating relationship' with student, 16

ORANGE COUNTY, Calif. - An employee with the Tustin Unified School District was arrested on charges of sexual assault involving a 16-year-old student, according to the Santa Ana Police Department. 

The suspect, 32-year-old Mariano Hernandez, was employed as a Behavior Interventionist at Benson Elementary, officials said. 

Hernandez was arrested Tuesday after officers responded to the area of Westwood Avenue and Riviera Drive on a report on potential sexual activity inside a vehicle. 

Responding officers located Hernandez and a girl in the backseat, who was later identified as a 16-year-old student at Foothill High School. 

Mariano Hernandez was arrested and booked into the Santa Ana Jail on various sexual assault charges. / Santa Ana Police Department

Authorities said Hernandez and the 16-year-old both admitted to meeting at Foothill High School and being in a "dating relationship" for "a few weeks."

Hernandez was arrested and booked into the Santa Ana Jail on various sexual assault-related charges.   

Detectives believe there may be additional victims or witnesses to the crime. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective M. Tapia at (714) 245-8379, mtapia@santa-ana.org, or Orange County Crime Stoppers at 1-855-TIP-OCCS.