Fullerton Middle School Teacher Faces Multiple Sexual Assault Charges

A Fullerton junior high school teacher was recently taken into custody on Tuesday, April 8 under suspicion of sexually assaulting and sending sexual text messages to three male students. The female teacher – 28-year-old Melissa Lindgren – taught math at Nicholas Junior High School in Orange County. She is being charged with multiple felony counts for allegedly assaulting three male students between the ages of 13 and 15 she met while teaching at the school.

According to the Orange County district attorney's office, Lindgren is a La Mirada resident and was initially arrested in late February after one of the victims stepped forward and the Fullerton Police Department launched an investigation. Over the course of a two-year period, Lindgren is accused of sexually touching and kissing one boy in a classroom, a second student on school grounds, and a third boy in her vehicle.

Lindgren is now facing five felony counts of lewd acts on a child, two felony charges for lewd acts on a child under 14, and three felony counts of distributing pornography to an underage person. She is also facing sentencing enhancements for lewd acts on multiple victims. If convicted of all charges, Lindgren faces up to 16 years and four months in state prison, as well as mandatory sex offender registration.

Lindgren becomes yet another Southern California female teacher to be accused of sexual abuse of male students. Several similar cases have occurred throughout the past year. This case demonstrates that sexual abuse can and does occur in schools, and that it is not limited to male offenders alone.

If you or someone you love would like more information about filing a child sexual abuse claim with the help of The Senators (Ret.) Firm, call 800-773-0849.