An associate principal at Hoover High School who allegedly sent lewd content to a minor pleaded not guilty Thursday to three felony sex crimes.
Charles Thomas Boyd De Freitas, 43, was arrested March 20 after police say a minor reported that he “sent and requested illicit images via a social media app.”
A criminal complaint states the alleged conduct occurred sometime between March 1 and March 20.
De Freitas is charged with sending harmful matter to a minor, contacting a minor with the intent to commit a sexual offense, and possession of child pornography. He faces up to four years in state prison if convicted of all counts.
Following his arrest, De Freitas posted $25,000 bail and was allowed to remain out of custody on that amount following Thursday’s arraignment. He must abide by certain conditions though, such as being searched without a warrant, prohibitions against using social media, and staying 100 yards away from all San Diego County schools and parks. He was also ordered to stay away from the victim, identified in court only as John Doe.
Police said De Freitas has worked within the San Diego Unified School District for over 13 years, where he served as an administrator at Hoover High, and previously as a teacher at the San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts.
In a letter sent to parents last week, Hoover High Principal Tracey Makings said De Freitas “has been placed on leave and will not be allowed on campus.”
Police and prosecutors asked anyone with information regarding the case or other potential victims to contact San Diego Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Investigator Lauren Hurtado at lhurtado@sdicac.org.
De Freitas is the third San Diego County school employee arrested recently for alleged sex-related crimes involving minors.
Stacy Michelle Walker, 40, a teacher at Mount Carmel High School, was arrested last week on suspicion of carrying on a yearslong sexual relationship with a girl who attended the Rancho Penasquitos campus, starting when the student was 15 years old. Walker has since been charged with 17 felonies and faces up to 13 years in state prison if convicted of all counts.
And Omar Galeana, 21, a supervisor at Diegueno Middle School in Encinitas, was arrested and charged earlier this week with allegedly molesting a 12- year-old student. He pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges that include aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14 years old.