Martinez Man Held On $16M Bail For Alleged Child Sex Offenses

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA — A 33-year-old Martinez man and teacher for the Walnut Creek School District is being held on $16-million bail for alleged sex offenses against a child under 10 years old, according to Contra Costa county prosecutors. A 16-count criminal complaint was filed Monday against Michael Bartel, accusing him of arranging to meet a child for sex, oral copulation with a minor, and possession and distribution of child pornography.

Bartel, a sixth- and seventh-grade science teacher at Walnut Creek Intermediate School teacher, was placed on administrative leave, effective Monday, Nov. 6 after district officials learned of the allegations against him, Walnut Creek School District officials said.

A weeklong investigation led to Bartel's arrest at about 1:30 p.m. Friday at the intersection of Danville Boulevard and Camille Place in Alamo.

Martinez police detectives learned Bartel was chatting online and allegedly discussed molesting children. Detectives and investigators with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force started an investigation to see if the statements were true.

Friday afternoon Walnut Creek police investigators searched Bartel's classroom and told school administrators Bartel had been arrested.

Later in the day, law enforcement searched Bartel's home in Martinez.

According to Walnut Creek School District officials, there have been no reports of inappropriate behavior by Bartel toward students at Walnut Creek Intermediate School during his tenure there. Furthermore, the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office said no local students are involved or identified in connection with the case.

District officials say Bartel was employed by the district since 2015 and worked continuously as a science teacher at Walnut Creek Intermediate School. He was hired after a thorough, standard background check that included fingerprinting and a criminal history review, district officials said.

Prior to his employment in Walnut Creek, Bartel worked as a substitute teacher for the Martinez Unified School District. Bartel worked for MUSD during the 2013-2014 school year, the East Bay Times reported, referring to a letter by MUSD Superintendent CJ Cammack addressing Bartel's arrest. Cammack in the letter indicated the allegations against Bartel did not involve students at any school in Martinez, the news outlet reported.

Bartel is a graduate of California State University, East Bay and has been teaching since 2011.

A fully credentialed and retired teacher is currently substituting for Bartel's classroom.

Bartel is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday at the Martinez courthouse.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Darryl Holcombe, senior inspector with the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office, at 925-957-2263.

Bay City News Service contributed to this report.

Patch file photo by Renee Schiavone