Porterville Military Academy Instructor Arrested for Molesting Teen Student

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PORTERVILLE, Calif. – A Porterville Military Academy Instructor was arrested for molesting a 14-year-old student, authorities said.

On Thursday, March 21, 2019, deputies responded to a Tulare County home for the report of possible child molestation. The child’s mother told deputies that her daughter’s former teacher had molested her. Evidence was collected tying James Randolph Van Norton, 40, of Porterville to the molestation. He was arrested as a result of the investigation.

Van Norton, a member of the Army National Guard was assigned as an instructor at the Porterville Military Academy where he met the teen. The Tulare County Sheriff’s Department, the Porterville Unified School District, the Porterville Police Department are working together on the investigation. Van Norton was booked at the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office Pre-trial Facility on multiple sex-related crimes. He is being held in lieu of $2.5 million bail.

Anyone with information on this case is encouraged to contact Detective Jose Nevarez or Sgt. Jason Kennedy with the Tulare County Sheriff’s Office at (559) 733-6218. Or they can remain anonymous by calling or texting (559)725-4194, or through email at tcso@tipnow.com. Refer to case number 19-3447.