Teacher arrested on suspicion of ‘inappropriate touching’ of Merced County juvenile hall inmates

A Merced County teacher has been arrested on suspicion of “inappropriate touching” of at least two juvenile hall inmates and posting gang-related photographs to their social media accounts, the Merced Sun-Star has confirmed.

Marilouise Hawks, 64, a former president of the Merced County Office Teachers Association, was arrested Tuesday and booked at the Merced County jail, the Sheriff's Department confirmed.

Sgt. Delray Shelton said Hawks was arrested on suspicion of “inappropriate touching” involving male inmates at the Iris Garrett Juvenile Justice Correctional Complex, where she was a teacher for the past nine years.

She was booked on suspicion of soliciting a minor for lewd purposes, criminal street gang participation, conspiracy with a prisoner and delivery of a cellphone to an inmate, according to Merced County booking records.

Hawks posted bail and was released from custody about 8:15 p.m. Tuesday, according to booking records.

She could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Nathan Quevedo, spokesman for the Merced County Office of Education, said Hawks has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the criminal case. Quevedo also confirmed Hawks was teaching middle school students at Los Banos Valley Community School prior to being placed on leave.

Quevedo said Hawks was placed on leave Nov. 17. She has been employed by the district since 1999.

“Student safety is always our top priority, and we’re cooperating fully with the sheriff’s office investigation,” Quevedo said.

Shelton said it’s still under investigation whether sexual intercourse occurred between Hawks and the minors.

The time frame of the alleged misconduct was unclear. Shelton said there were many details of the case he could not discuss to protect the ongoing investigation.

Ages of the inmates in question were not available.

The Sheriff’s Department said allegations against Hawks first surfaced in October when a juvenile hall inmate reported “misconduct” involving Hawks and at least two inmates. Hawks was removed from her teaching position at the facility after she was caught passing a note to a juvenile inmate in October, according to deputies.

Investigators said Hawks is suspected of smuggling cellphones to the juvenile inmates, passing letters and providing them with money. She is also accused of posting gang-related photographs to social media accounts linked to the juveniles in question, deputies said.

The juvenile facility is overseen by the Merced County Probation Department. Chief probation Officer Scott Ball said he was “shocked beyond belief” about the alleged incident.

“We have protocols in place to ensure the safety and security of our minors to the best of our ability. She found a way to cross the line, allegedly, in a manner that’s criminal,” he said.

Ball said about five teachers work at the juvenile facility, and they undergo the same criminal background checks as teachers who work at ordinary public schools. When asked whether his department will do anything differently because of the alleged incident, Ball said he’s “comfortable” with current safety protocols. “That doesn’t mean we can’t always step back and take a look when these types of things occur,” he added.

This story was originally published January 28, 2015 at 2:27 PM with the headline "Teacher arrested on suspicion of ‘inappropriate touching’ of Merced County juvenile hall inmates."