A Brea Olinda Unified School District board trustee was arrested after Brea police were alerted to an allegation of “inappropriate sexual messages” sent to a child, police said.
Christopher Becerra, 42, was arrested on Thursday, Dec. 18, on suspicion of possessing child pornography, annoying or molesting a child, and falsifying evidence and bribing, influencing, intimidating or threatening witnesses, Brea police said.
Becerra was elected to the board in 2022 with his term running into 2026. He had previously worked for the district in 2010-2018 and was employed at the Orange County Department of Education before owning an educational consulting agency and working as an administrator in higher education and a professor of child development, according to his page on the district site.
He represents the district’s Trustee Area 4.
Becerra is an employee of Santa Ana College and on the Board of Trustees of the North Orange County Regional Occupational Program, an adult career education institution, Brea police said.
Detectives said they identified additional victims during their investigation.
In a statement to staffers and families, district Superintendent Brinda Leon called the allegations against Becerra “deeply disturbing.”
“The district understands that this news may be upsetting, and we want to assure you that we are taking all necessary steps available to us, under the law for elected officials, to address the situation and to ensure that our students are safe and supported,” Leon said. “At this time, the district has no knowledge of any misconduct involving current BOUSD students or staff members, and will continue to work with the Brea Police Department to fully cooperate with this investigation.”
Police asked anyone with information about the case to contact Brea police detectives at 714-671-4469.