A 44-year-old teacher in the Irvine Unified School District was arrested over the weekend after allegedly having sexually explicit conversations with a 14-year-old boy online, authorities announced Monday.
Eric Reid Zurcher, an Irvine resident and math teacher at Sierra Vista Middle School, was reported to police by a private group that works to expose people who engage in online criminal activity, according to a news release from the Irvine Police Department. .
“The group reported communicating with adult males online posing as 14-year-old boys,” the release details. “The text messages became sexual in nature, with the adult asking the minor if she was interested in meeting him.”
Authorities added that before calling police, the caller confronted Zecher at his home and tried to talk to him, but after a brief conversation, the 44-year-old entered his home and closed the door.
Detectives then obtained a warrant, arrested Zecher at his home and booked him into the Orange County Jail on suspicion of attempting to meet and engage in sexual activity with a minor.
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School district officials are working closely with investigators and do not believe at this time that the 44-year-old man had an inappropriate relationship with a student, the statement said.
However, the district placed Mr. Zecher on administrative leave.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to contact Irvine Police Department Detective Brian Felling at 949-724-7189 or email bfelling@cityofirvine.org.
If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call the Orange County Crime Stoppers Hotline at 855-TIP-OCCS or leave a tip online at www.occrimestoppers.org.
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