RivCo Teacher Accused Of Sexually Molesting Former Student: Sheriff

RIVERSIDE, CA — A 41-year-old Moreno Valley teacher accused of sexually assaulting one of her students was arrested Friday, authorities said.

Samantha Josephine Watson of Eastvale was booked into the Robert Presley Jail in Riverside Friday on suspicion digital penetration of a minor, oral copulation of an underage victim and distributing explicit material to a minor, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Jail records indicated that Watson posted bond in an unspecified amount Friday afternoon and was released from custody.

Riverside Sheriff’s Moreno Valley Station's Investigation Bureau began investigating allegations of inappropriate contact with a student at a school in Moreno Valley on Jan. 28, according to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Authorities said the alleged assaults occurred during the 2017-18 academic year, while Watson was employed at the charter school, which wasn't named, though it was located at the time in the 23000 block of Sunnymead Boulevard, just south of the Moreno Valley (60) Freeway.

The alleged victim's identity and gender were not disclosed by authorities.

The department's Special Victims Unit initiated an investigation, gathering sufficient information to obtain a search warrant for Watson's residence on Fieldmaster Street, near Silent Stream Court, where she was taken into custody without incident shortly after 10 a.m. Friday.

It was unclear whether any evidence was seized from the property.

Background details on Watson, including her current employment status, were unavailable.

City News Service contributed to this report.