North High School Employee Arrested for Sexual Misconduct with Minor Students

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – An Employee at North High School in the City of Bakersfield was arrested for sexual misconduct to at students via social media.

The Kern High School District athletic equipment manager was accused of sending sexually explicit messages to the students through Snapchat on September 26, 2018. The student reported to a school administrator that Edwin Rodriguez, 40, had sent multiple messages.The school administration notified the Kern County Sheriff’s Office who began an investigation. Detectives, through investigation, determined that Rodriguez sent the sexually explicit messages to eight students. In addition, detectives learned that Rodriguez had inappropriate sexual contact with more than one of the victims since 2015.

On Tuesday, February 19, 2019, Rodriguez at his home in the 8200 block of North Laurelglen Boulevard, where he was taken into custody without incident. Rodriguez was booked into jail for three felony counts of sending harmful matter to minor, eight felony counts of lewd acts with a minor 14 or 15 years old, twelve counts of annoying or molesting a child, and one count of misdemeanor false imprisonment. He is being held in lieu of $175,000 bail.

Kern High School said that they were shocked and disturbed by the allegations against Rodriguez. “We care deeply about the safety and well-being of our students and our sympathies go out to the victims and their families,” the school district shared in a written statement. “These allegations are very troubling, and we understand that you may have questions and concerns.” The district is offering counseling both the student victims and any other students affected by the incident. Rodriguez was hired in 2009 as a walk-on football coach. He served as a substitute campus security employee in 2010 and was hired as an athletic equipment manager at North High School in 2011. Following the allegations, Rodriguez was placed on administrative leave.

The investigation is ongoing, anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Kern County Sheriff’s Department at (661)861-3110 or secret witness line at (661)322-4040