A substitute math teacher at Saugus High School who was charged with 18 criminal counts in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of a student returned to court on Thursday for a preliminary setting.
David Cornish, 28, stands accused of “oral copulation with a minor, lewd acts with a child, penetration with a foreign object and two counts dealing with sexually inappropriate messages over the internet,” according to Sgt. Brian Hudson of the Sheriff’s Department’s Special Victims Unit.
The victim’s mother became aware of the abuse, and then contacted the authorities, according to Hudson.
Cornish was initially arrested on a pair of charges. As Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station detectives began to investigate, they learned the relationship was going on for about a month, Hudson said.
William S. Hart Union High School District officials said they suspended Cornish upon learning of the allegations.
Cornish could face years in prison if convicted of the charges that he allegedly began texting a student, with whom he then engaged in a sexually abusive relationship, while he was a substitute teacher on contract for the Hart district.
He’s due back in court Nov. 6 for another preliminary setting.
Cornish is being held in lieu of $1,075,000 bail at Men’s Central Jail.
