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   From: losers@dnc.org   
      
   A Ukiah High School teacher suspected of an inappropriate   
   embrace with a 17-year-old girl was arrested Tuesday, according   
   to the Mendocino County District Attorney’s Office.   
      
   Ukiah police arrested Benjamin O’Neill, 34, and booked him into   
   the Mendocino County Jail. Jail records show he posted a $7,500   
   bond for the misdemeanor charge of annoying or molesting a child   
   under 18 years and was released Tuesday afternoon.   
      
   O’Neill is a teacher in the school’s career technical education   
   program. Ukiah Unified School District Superintendent Deb Kubin   
   issued a statement Wednesday, saying O’Neill had been placed on   
   administrative leave pending further review.   
      
   The teen told school officials in May of an alleged incident   
   from September 2017. School officials alerted police and   
   detectives launched an investigation involving O’Neill and a 17-   
   year-old girl who wasn’t a student, Ukiah police Sgt. Cedric   
   Crook said Wednesday afternoon in a news release.   
      
   Police in May turned over their investigation to the Mendocino   
   County District Attorney’s Office. An arrest warrant was issued   
   and O’Neill was arrested at the Ukiah Police Department.   
      
   District Attorney spokesman Mike Geniella Thursday said the   
   arrest stemmed from a one-time, inappropriate embrace that   
   happened at the high school when the girl visited in September.   
   She had graduated in June.   
      
   Kubin in a phone interview Wednesday said a letter was sent to   
   students and families about the situation. She also said the   
   principal visited classrooms Wednesday and talked with students.   
      
   Counselors would be available at school for anyone needing extra   
   support, she said.   
      
   “As a school district, our primary responsibility is to protect   
   the children in our care. When a UUSD staff member is accused of   
   illegal or inappropriate behavior, we conduct a thorough   
   investigation. We listen to all sides of the story and do   
   everything in our power to uncover the truth,” Kubin said in her   
   statement. “When law enforcement investigators are involved, we   
   are careful not to compromise their efforts. While safeguarding   
   students, we reserve judgment in all cases until the facts have   
   been reviewed.”   
      
   O’Neill was active in organizing a summertime healthcare program   
   where students work with medical professionals, according to   
   articles on the school district’s website. He also was   
   recognized in recent years for his work with students to provide   
   “education and leadership to dramatically reduce alcohol use at   
   school functions.”   
      
   You can reach Staff Writer Randi Rossmann at 707-521-5412 or   
   randi.rossmann@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter@rossmannreport.   
      
   https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/8708961-181/ukiah-teacher-   
   arrested?sba=AAS   
       
      
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