A longtime educator who taught and coached volleyball at an Inland Empire school was accused of trying to meet up with a 14-year-old for sex, which turned out to be an undercover investigator, the Rancho Cucamonga Police Department said.
Charles Mayer, 55, of Menifee, was in jail Thursday, accused of the shocking charges that left many parents and students stunned.
Police say Mayer, the dean of students at Nicolet Middle School, initiated a conversation on social media, allegedly believing he was speaking to a 14-year-old boy.
Undercover detectives chatted with Mayer for five days, and during that time Mayer allegedly sent nude photos of himself, police said.
"Mr. Mayer did send photos to the decoy; nude photos of himself," said San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Jodi Miller.
Ultimately, the conversation led to Mayer allegedly setting up a meeting in Rancho Cucamonga so he could pick up the "boy."
"And then he was wanting to take him back to his home in Menifee," Miller said.
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Sheriff's deputies say Mayer left school on Friday and drove to Rancho Cucamonga where he was arrested by a detective.
"It's just gross," said parent Alicia Martinez. "It's worth taking my children out of here."
Banning Unified School District released a statement, urging any possible victims to come forward.
Investigators say Mayer's access to children has them very concerned.
Mayer, who was recently made dean, was a teacher at Nicolet Middle School.
"Any victims will be kept 100 percent confidential," Miller said.
Parents say this is a good example of why they always tell their children to be extra careful whenever they use social media.
"Never talk to them if you don't know them," Martinez said.
Mayer faces three felony charges, and bail has been set at $1 million.
