Palmdale teacher arrested for sexual abuse of special-needs student

LANCASTER, Calif. (KABC) -- A 28-year-old Palmdale teacher has been arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a 17-year-old special needs student on multiple occasions.

Authorities say Aaron Alvidrez was arrested on Tuesday at a residence in Lancaster and was held on $325,000 bail.

The investigation began Monday when the male victim told school officials that Alvidrez had sexually assaulted him several times in September. The alleged incidents happened inside a classroom at Highland High School and inside Alvidrez's vehicle.

The victim was enrolled in a special needs program at the school, sheriff's officials said.

Alvidrez, a long-term substitute teacher at Highland High School, was charged with multiple counts of committing sodomy on a minor, oral copulation on a minor and meeting a minor for the purpose of committing a lewd act. His arraignment hearing was postponed to Nov. 18.

Anyone with information about the investigation is urged to call the L.A. County Sheriff's Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273.