Palo Alto High School Teacher Arrested For Alleged Sex With Student

PALO ALTO - Police say they arrested a Palo Alto High School science teacher Wednesday night for committing alleged sex crimes against one of his students after the end of the school year. 

According to Palo Alto police, on Monday, June 13, the 24-hour dispatch center received a call from a parent that their 15-year-old daughter had allegedly been assaulted by a teacher, 46-year-old Ronnie Farrell.

The victim, police say, had recently completed ninth grade at Palo Alto High School, and the suspect had been her biology teacher during her freshman year. 

According to investigators, the suspect had been communicating with the victim using private messaging on social media networks. 

Police claim Farrell asked the girl to meet him at Palo Alto High School on Tuesday, June 7, at 9:00 a.m. 

It was normal for the victim to help her teachers with chores in the classroom, according to authorities, and she agreed to meet him. 

Palo Alto police say Farrell led the girl to his classroom, where the two of them were alone. After engaging the victim in conversation, police say Farrell put his hands under the victim’s clothes and touched her breasts. He also took one of her hands and placed it on his groin over his clothing, according to police. 

Police say the suspect eventually told the girl to leave his classroom, which she did. 

According to police, Farrell continued corresponding with the victim via social media, and arranged to meet her at Palo Alto High School on the evening of Wednesday, June 15. 

Palo Alto detectives were there to meet him, according to authorities, and took the man into custody without incident. 

Police say Ronnie Farrell, a Palo Alto resident, was booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail on four felony charges: child molestation, sexual battery, communicating with a minor with the intent to commit a sex crime, and arranging a meeting (and arriving at said meeting) with a minor with the intent to commit a sex crime.

Palo Alto police say Farrell is a full-time employee of the Palo Alto Unified School District. He is not teaching any summer session classes. 

Detectives are not aware of any additional victims at this time, but anyone who believes that their child may be a victim is encouraged to call the Palo Alto 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. 

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413.

Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984. 

Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the free mobile app, downloadable at bit.ly/PAPD-AppStore or bit.ly/PAPD-GooglePlay.

-image via Palo Alto police