DA: Former Tulare County teacher found guilty of child molestation

TULARE COUNTY, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) - A erstwhile teacher astatine a subject academy successful Porterville was recovered blameworthy of kid molestation, according to the Tulare County District Attorney's Office connected Thursday.

According to the DA, the Tulare County Superior Court, South County Justice Center and TCDA enactment crimes prosecutors secured a blameworthy verdict against James Van Norton, 45, for kid molestation connected Thursday.

The DA says Norton was convicted of 3 felony counts of unlawful intersexual intercourse by a assemblage and 13 felony counts of lewd enactment upon a kid aged 14. Each county, officials say, is enhanced with the peculiar allegation that Van Norton was successful a presumption of trust.

Officials accidental the crimes took spot from August 2018 to March 2019 successful Tulare County against a azygous insignificant victim. At the clip of the crimes, Van Norton was employed arsenic a teacher astatine the Porterville Military Academy.

According to the DA's office, sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 6. Van Norton faces up to 14 years and 8 months successful authorities prison. Additionally, helium indispensable registry arsenic a enactment offender for life.