Fresno County Sheriff - Coroners Office

Margaret Mims, Sheriff - Coroner

March 16, 2017
News Release
Tony Botti Public Information Officer
Office: (559) 600-8137
Cell: (559) 977-0379
E-Mail: tony.botti@fresnosheriff.org

Detectives Arrest Local Teacher for Having Sex with a

Minor

On Thursday, detectives with the Fresno County Sheriffs Sex Crimes Unit
arrested 40 year old Michael Dean Morton of Fresno. He was booked into
the Fresno County Jail on a felony charge of unlawful sex with a minor.
He has since posted the necessary bond to bail out of jail.

Earlier this week, detectives received a report that Michael Morton had
been involved in a sexual relationship with a former student at Central
West High School. The alleged activity took place in 2015, shortly after
the 17 year old girl had graduated from Central West. Detectives
conducted interviews and developed enough information to arrest
Morton.

On Thursday, detectives contacted Morton at Central West High School

and placed him under arrest. Detectives have determined that none of the
sexual activity between Morton and the victim took place on school
grounds. This remains an ongoing investigation.

Central Unified School District has released the following statement.

Effective immediately, Mr. Morton is no longer an employee with Central

Unified School District. We are fully cooperating with the Fresno County
Sheriffs Office and will continue to do so through the course of its
investigation.
There is a possibility that there are other victims out there who have not
reported Mortons illegal activity. If you are aware of such behavior,
please contact Detective Lorena Jimenez at (559) 600-8221 or call Crime
Stoppers at (559) 498-STOP (7867).