Police Seek Additional Victims of Teacher/Coach Accused of Molestation

The Capistrano Unified School District had counselors and psychologists available today for students and staff in the wake of the arrest of a Dana Hills High School teacher accused of having sex with an underage boy for the past two years.

Ezequiel Christopher Barragan, 48, of Aliso Viejo, was arrested Monday and was being held in lieu of $500,000 bail on suspicion of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child younger than 14 and possession of child pornography, according to Orange County sheriff’s Lt. Jeff Hallock.

Barragan has been placed on leave, according to Capistrano Unified spokeswoman Julie Hatchel, who said that he had “been an employee in good standing with the district” since being hired in 1998.

Parents were notified of Barragan’s arrest via email on Monday night and also contacted by phone this morning, Hatchel said.

Both students and staff have expressed shock, said Hatchel. Counselors are working to help students process the allegations, and they’re also helping staff cope with the news.

“This was a colleague of theirs,” said Hatchel.

Barragan taught Spanish to freshmen and juniors and was chairman of the school’s World Languages Department, Hatchel said.

He has long had access to children in Orange County as a youth baseball coach for two decades and as a volunteer with the Court Appointed Special Advocate for Children in Orange County program, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department..

Authorities don’t yet know which teams or leagues Barragan has been affiliated with, added Hallock.

“We are hoping people will recognize him and come forward,” he said.

Barragan was initially a target of a U.S. Postal Service investigation of child pornography, according to Hallock.

Sheriff’s investigators are concerned there may be more alleged victims and encouraged anyone with information to call (714) 647-7418 or (714) 647- 7000. Anonymous tips may be made through Orange County Crime Stoppers at (955) TIP-OCCS or at occrimestoppers.org.

Barragan is scheduled to appear in court on Wednesday.

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City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.

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