Temecula Teacher Caught With Former Student in Van

James Seishin Pinckard

Remember that movie "Bad Teacher?" Well, James Seishin Pinckard's educational practices may be much, much worse than those of Cameron D.

Pinckard, a 56-year-old math teacher at James L. Day Middle School, was arrested on Tuesday night. He is charged with suspicion of unlawful intercourse with a minor. The teen, whose identity has not been released, is a 17-year-old girl and former student of Pinckard's.

Murrieta police were responding to a burglar alarm at a business at 41771 Corporate Center Court at about 9pm on Tuesday when they spotted a van in the parking lot. Pinckard was behind the wheel. While questioning the driver, they discovered the juvenile victim hiding in the back of the vehicle.

Sergeant Phil Gomez said that an "investigation revealed Pinckard and the juvenile... have been involved in an ongoing sexual relationship for over one year," reports City News Service.

After posting a $5,000 bond, Pinckard was released from the Southwest Detention Center several hours after his detainment. On Wednesday, he was placed on paid administrative leave. If criminal charges are filed against Pinckard, his leave will become unpaid.

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