Investigation Revealed School Employee Attempting to Meet Minor for Sex is Former Priest

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RANCHO CUCAMONGA – Authorities concerns escalated when they learned that a 55-year-old Banning Unified School District employee who was arrested for attempting to meet a minor for sex, was at one time a priest.

Charles Patrick Mayer worked as a teacher at Nicolet Middle School until the 2017-2018 school year and as of the 2018-2019 school year was promoted to Dean of Students. Mayer was arrested after chatting with a Rancho Cucamonga Detective, who was posing as a 14-year-old boy on social media. Mayer chatted with the boy for five days and sent nude photos of himself to the decoy and told him that he wanted him to go to his Menifee home to engage in sexual acts. The two made arrangements to meet at a Rancho Cucamonga location.

Mayer left his job in Banning on Friday, August 17, 2018, at 4:30 p.m. to meet with the boy. When he arrived he was arrested and booked into the West Valley Detention Center for Sending Harmful Matter to a Minor, Arranging to Meet Minor for Sex Acts, and Meeting a Minor for Sex Acts. Detectives expressed concern about Mayer possibly meeting an engaging in sex acts with other underaged boys.

The case was presented to the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s office for review. As a result of the information provided and additional investigation, Mayer was charged with Arrange Meeting With Minor: Sexual Interest and Distributing Pornography to a Minor. While investigating detectives learned that Mayer was a priest for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles in 1996. He served at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Northridge, CA from 1996-2000. ‘He has been on inactive leave as a priest, not in ministry, since September of 2000 due to a failure to adhere to Archdiocesan policies concerning interaction with youth and young adults,” Sheriff’s officials said. The Archdiocese of Los Angeles is cooperating with the investigation.

It was also learned that Mayer has taught and was the Vice Principal of various religious-based schools in the cities of Menifee and Vista, California since 2000. Detectives were made aware of possible inappropriate behavior involving students at those schools, and possible students within the Banning School District. Detectives are looking into those reports to determine if criminal acts occurred.

Detectives have been in contact with officials from the Banning School District, and they are fully cooperating with our investigation.

On Wednesday, August 22, 2018, Charles Mayer was arraigned in San Bernardino County Superior Court – Rancho Cucamonga Division, on his charges and was held in lieu of bail pending a further court hearing on Monday, August 27, 2018, in Department S-15.

If anyone recognizes Mayer or has information pertinent to this investigation, they are urged to contact the Detective’s Bureau at the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can call the We-Tip Hotline at 1-800-78-CRIME.