By Kristie Tom
At 12:15 p.m. on Thursday, July 1, San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies arrested George Armenta in Chino Hills after an investigation of several months regarding charges of having a sexual relationship with a former student. He was detained at the West Valley Detention Center before posting $50,000 bail.
Armenta, a 36-year-old resident of El Monte, is the colorguard choreographer for Arcadia High School.
The charges against Armenta entail a two-year sexual relationship, which began when the victim, now 25, was 15 and ended when he was 17. The victim informed the Chino Hills Police Department of the sexual abuse in March, according to a sheriff’s news release.
The victim told authorities that he and Armenta were sexually involved while he was a member of the color guard at a Chino Hills high school. According to the news release, the actions took place in Chino Hills and at Armenta’s residences in Los Angeles County.
Kathy Oros, the Sheriff’s Detective of San Bernardino County, explained to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune that victims do not often report sexual abuse immediately.
“What ends up happening is they finally build up the courage,” Oros told the Tribune. “He finally got the strength to come forward.”
After the victim reported the crimes in March, investigators were able to find evidence that supported the allegations.
Armenta was booked on suspicion of oral copulation with a minor under age 16 and sodomy with a minor under age 18, the release said.
However, some of Armenta’s past colorguard members at Arcadia High School do feel that “he was the type of person who would coerce people into doing something that they didn’t want to do,” according to one colorguard alumna. And though “there’s been a lot of negativity about him in Arcadia these days,” she believes that “we wouldn’t have been half as great without him. We are going to stand by him forever.”
Investigators would like anyone with additional information on this case or additional victims to contact Chino Hills police at (909) 364-2061.