SJ teacher arrested for sex with student

SAN JOSE, CA

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Our media partner, the San Jose Mercury News, has gathered even more information on the case.

"When this thing happens, it's inexcusable," says Rommel Sanchez, a parent.

Sanchez is angry after hearing the news that Rita Brum, his daughter's P.E. teacher at Mount Pleasant High School, is accused of having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female student.

"If this happens, who are we to blame except the officials who are overseeing them," says Sanchez.

According to the San Jose Mercury News, the East Side Union High School District voted to fire Brum on Tuesday. The first-year teacher was arrested February 26, 2009. That was one month after the victim's mother found a love letter from Brum, in her daughter's room.

"It's wrong, people are breaking the law, in which we have adults taking advantage of children," says Officer Jermaine Thomas, with the San Jose Police Department.

However, according to Brum's attorney, Edward Ajlouny, this was a relationship that wasn't pre-meditated; it was platonic at first. Still, Ajlouny says his client,"Will take full responsibility for this. We're not going to challenge the allegations at this point. My goal is to try to keep her out of jail."

"She was really cool with the students and a lot of people liked her," says Jaya Shingal, a student.

Brum was a popular, well liked teacher who also coached intramural sports off campus. That's why police think there may be more victims who simply haven't come forward.

All of this comes as a shock to students who considered the 24-year-old not just a teacher, but a friend.

"The other teachers in the school are very distant and they don't really talk to us in any way and she took the time to talk to us and help us with what we were doing," says K-Li Sanchez, a student.

Rita Brum will be arraigned in a Santa Clara County courtroom on Thursday.

You can read more details from the San Jose Mercury News here

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