http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_5553720
Teacher still posting on MySpace
Suspected of lewd acts, man keeps on messaging
By Leonor Vivanco, Staff Writer
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
Article Launched:
A Rialto High School teacher who was arrested more than a month ago on suspicion of lewd acts with a girl is communicating with his students over MySpace.com as he awaits his court date.
Matthew Cepican, 31, was arrested Feb. 26 after Fontana police found him with a 16-year-old Rialto girl in his car in a remote area in the north end of Fontana.
The popular history teacher, called "Mr. C" by students at Rialto High, was booked into West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on suspicion of committing lewd or lascivious acts with a minor.
Cepican has posted bail and is scheduled to appear Monday in Fontana Superior Court, though the District Attorney's Office has yet to file charges against him.
Clark Hansen III, a supervising district attorney in Fontana, said prosecutors are waiting for police to file a follow-up to the investigation report they turned in last week.
Cepican's court date may be moved, Hansen said.
Fontana police Detective Kelly Binks said investigators are waiting to determine whether two computers seized in a search will turn up any evidence to bolster their case.
"It can be a time-consuming process," Binks said. The department has only one forensic specialist who can do the job and there are other cases, he said.
Because Cepican is not in custody, Binks said, investigators have a "little bit more luxury of time" to file their case against him.
Meanwhile, Cepican has continued to post on MySpace.com, a popular online networking site, and former and current students have sent him messages of support.
On March 3, an 18-year-old man from Rialto who said he didn't care what was said about his teacher posted this message: "sup mr.C & you still the downest teacher i had & ."
High school students said Tuesday that Cepican was popular, laid back, young and hip and that they could use slang with him.
In a blog dated March 20, Cepican wrote, "I miss you all more than I can say. You got me through the toughest years of my life and owe all my dreams and success to you.
"My greatest reward ain't some stupid recognition from my peers. My greatest reward is your love and respect. I will never forget you ... ."
The Rialto Unified School District placed Cepican on paid administrative leave at the time of his arrest and is aware he has been communicating with students on MySpace, said spokeswoman Syeda Jafri. But the district's hands are tied, she said.
"We don't have any control over what an employee who is on administrative leave does outside the school district," she said.
"Students while attending school at Rialto Unified School District, I can assure you, should not be corresponding with a teacher on administrative leave. They should be studying," she said. "However & when students are outside the district environment after school, we no longer have the control to monitor what is allegedly occurring on MySpace."
MySpace link: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID =5786660
And we wonder why kids are so illiterate these days. :-o
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Originally Posted by marakisses
