A former Dos Palos High teacher is accused of sending inappropriate messages with a sexual undertone to underage students on social media.
Guillermo Rivas Jr., 25, of Dos Palos, is scheduled to appear for a pretrial hearing April 22 at the Los Banos Courthouse.
Rivas is charged with two counts of annoying or molesting a child, according to Merced County Chief Deputy District Attorney Katie Gates.
Rivas was placed on administrative leave on Jan. 17, 2023. He previously taught math and coached junior varsity boys soccer along with track & field.
“The district takes student and staff safety very seriously,” Schwab said in a statement to the Sun-Star. “While the district does not comment on personnel issues, I can confirm that Guillermo Rivas Jr. is no longer employed with the district.”
Rivas pleaded not guilty to both charges during an arraignment hearing on Oct. 18, 2023.
Inappropriate messages
According to the Dos Palos Police report, Rivas allegedly engaged in inappropriate messages via social media with two Dos Palos students under the age of 18 between Aug. 10, 2022, and Jan. 24, 2023.
School and Dos Palos/Oro Loma Joint Unified School District administrators contacted the Dos Palos Police Department on Jan. 17, 2023, after a 14-year old female student told the principal her math teacher had been sending her inappropriate messages on social media via Instagram and Snapchat.
According to the police report, Rivas made a comment about wanting to kiss the student.
Rivas previously was the victim’s math teacher in eighth grade at Bryant Middle School. He served as the student’s math teacher again while working full-time at Dos Palos High.
A witness who had seen a message from Rivas to the victim, told police that Rivas sent a message that read: “I was a little drunk and I basically just said that if you’d ever let me kiss you but you don’t have to answer that.”
The victim also showed comments Rivas made on Instagram, stating she “look so good” and “every guy in the school knows he’ll date you if he had the chance,” and “You look so good in uniform.”
Dos Palos police said another female Dos Palos High student received inappropriate messages from Rivas on social media on Jan. 24.
Rivas allegedly told the second victim on Snapchat “I’d be so down to go to bed with you someday” and “you go girl, just as long as u don’t get me in trouble, pls.”
The second victim also had Rivas as a math teacher at Bryant Middle School before attending Dos Palos High.
The second victim told police that Rivas started off as a friend, and would help her with homework and become a support system for her. She told police he wasn’t inappropriate in person.
However, he started making comments on social media when she posted pictures like, “you look so beautiful.”
According to the police report, the second victim said “Rivas’ behavior slowly progressed and eventually became sexual when he started making comments in regards to her breasts.”
If convicted, Rivas faces up to one year of incarceration for each count, according to Gates.
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