Ex-Teacher Arrested on Suspicion of Child Molestation

Police arrested a Newport Beach man and former teacher today on suspicion of molesting two female students and possessing graphic child pornography depicting young girls, authorities said.

Alex Bassinne, 50, of Newport Beach, is charged with one felony count each of lewd acts upon a child under 14, lewd acts upon a child, and possession and control of child pornography, the District Attorney's office reported. Bassinne posted $100,000 bail and is expected to be arraigned on Friday, June 15 at the Harbor Justice Center in Newport Beach.

If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of nine years and four months in state prison.

Prosecutors said at the time of the alleged sexual assaults, Bassinne was a teacher in the Santa Ana Unified School District and was teaching at Santa Ana High School and Raymond A. Villa Fundamental Intermediate School.

Bassinne is accused of touching the buttocks of a 15-year-old female student during a class trip on Feb. 15, 2009. Prosecutors allege sometime between Nov. 1 and Nov. 4, 2010, Bassinne looked down the shirt of a 13-year-old female student. When she tried to move her shirt to stop him, prosecutors say Bassinne grabbed the victim's shirt and positioning it so that he could continue looking down it.

In 2011 Bassinne moved with his family to Newport Beach but left a desk and other furniture behind in Laguna Niguel. According to the DA's office, Bassinne left behind a disc containing images of graphic child pornography depicting girls, approximately 10 to 12 years old. The disc was later found and turned over to police.

Police searched Bassinne's Newport Beach home and allege Bassinne was in possession of additional child pornography similar in nature to that found in the Laguna Niguel home, the DA reported.

Police worked with the Santa Ana Unified School District Police Department to investigate any possible victims and discovered the sexual assaults of the two female students.

Authorities ask anyone with information about this case to call NBPD Detective David Syvock at 949- 644-3771, Supervising District Attorney Investigator Lou Gutierrez at 714-347-8794 or SAUSDPD Sgt. Manuel Chavez at 714-558-5739.