Bonita H.S. teacher arrested for affair
Campus Times
September 25, 1998
Philip Hawkey, the executive vice president, is new to the administrative
staff this year. Hawkey is joining the La Verne staff after serving as the
City Manager in Pasadena, as well as Toledo, Cincinnati and Kettering, Ohio.
David Dangleis, a Bonita High School teacher, was arrested at his Diamond
Bar residence Wednesday on suspicion of having unlawful sexual relations
with a minor, as well as committing lewd acts on a child.
According to a press release, the father of the alleged minor, a student
at Bonita High School (BHS), contacted investigators at the La Verne Police
Department (LVPD) Wednesday afternoon to inform them of his suspicions regarding
the matter. He believed his 16-year-old daughter was having an affair with
Dangleis, 32, a social sciences teacher and sports coach at the school.
Charles Montoya, police captain for LVPD, received the call after it
was directed to his attention by city hall. Upon receiving the information,
Capt. Montoya was "concerned because it's a minor with an adult.
"We don't know the length of this relationship; we don't know if
it was a dating relationship," he said.
The investigation began immediately, at about 1:30 p.m., and investigators
met with the alleged minor to question her regarding the issue. Having gathered
sufficient information for an arrest, LVPD investigators went to Dangleis'
home in Diamond Bar at about 6 p.m. to make the arrest for sexual misconduct.
"The student was a minor, under the age of 18, and there are specific
laws that prohibit certain types of sexual relations between a minor and
an adult," said Capt. Montoya. "The law prohibits an adult from
having sexual relations with a minor."
Although the affair may have been consentual, it does not change the
nature of the charge. The issue is still considered a violation of the law,
and is defined as statutory rape.
Capt. Montoya could not comment on Dangleis' response to the allegations
because he was not at the scene at the time of the arrest. Dangleis was
placed in the LVPD jail, and, at about 12:30 a.m., yesterday, was released
after posting bail of $70,000.
He has since been placed on administrative leave from his position at
Bonita, and will remain under this status, with pay, pending further investigation.
"We are very troubled, saddened that such a thing could happen,
and that it did happen," said Dr. Lonnie McConnell, assistant superintendent
of human resources at Bonita Unified School District.
Dangleis became employed by the district in January of 1994. He has
worked at BHS since 1994, and was formerly employed as an instructor of
San Dimas High School. In addition to being a social sciences instructor,
Dangleis also trains the high school's cross country and track and field
teams during their individual seasons.
Aside from these duties, he is also actively involved within the City
of Azusa's Parks and Recreation program.
Joe Jacobs, director of Azusa's Parks and Recreation program and close
friend of Dangleis' for 20 years, was surprised at the allegations. Jacobs
said he was "not prepared to comment on the matter at this time."
