REDLANDS TEACHER SEX UPDATE: Prosecutor Says There is 'Another Victim,' Attempts Were Made to Contact Teen Father of Her Baby

A Redlands high school teacher who is accused of 41 sex felonies in connection with alleged relations she had with three former students, including one she conceived a baby with, was involved with a fourth alleged victim but prosecutors could not bring additional charges because so much time has passed, a deputy D.A. said Friday.

Laura Elizabeth Whitehurst, 28, of Redlands, also made multiple attempts to contact the teen father of her baby in spite of warnings she not do so, according to Deputy District Attorney Melissa Rodriguez.

Whitehurst was dressed in green inmate garb over a white T-shirt, and her wrists were cuffed and attached to a chain around her waist as she stood in court Friday morning in San Bernardino.

Whitehurst's defense attorney, James R. Gass of Redlands, said his client should be released on her own recognizance or have her bail reduced to around $25,000.

"Most of the events or allegations date back to '07 or '08," Gass told Superior Court Judge Art Harrison. "According to the police report she's been as cooperative as a defendant could ever be. . . . 

"She was out of custody for a period of time between the first arrest and the second arrest and didn't make any effort to evade detection or arrest," Gass said. "I think it's a stretch to say she's a threat to public safety. . . . 

"These victims don't even perceive themselves as victims. The District Attorney's Office perceives them as victims," Gass said. "I think if the court would set her bail to what she was already out on, $20,000 or $25,000 bail, if we could set her bail in that range again, or perhaps because there are more charges tack something on, she'll be here and we'll resolve the case.

"And she's got a nursing baby at home, perhaps it can be taken into consideration, it's another reason she's not going to be running to Mexico," Gass said.

Harrison denied the motion to have Whitehurst released on her own recognizance and ordered her to return to court Wednesday July 31. He re-set her bail at $500,000.

Rodriguez spoke with reporters after the hearing in Department 22 to recap what transpired in court. Redlands-Loma Linda Patch video of her remarks is attached to this report.

"The reasons we opposed reducing bail in this case are because of the number of victims in this case," Rodriguez said. "In addition, we had another victim that we were not able to press charges or bring charges for that victim because it was outside the statute of limitations.

"So there is another victim," Rodriguez said. "There's a fourth, but again that victim is outside the statute of limitations. It just continues to show the type of conduct that this defendant was engaged in.

"In addition there were some statements that were made where the defendant indicated that she had considered leaving the state after the charges were reported to the police. . . . 

"After she had been contacted by the victim's mom and asked to leave the victim alone, she repeatedly attempted to contact the victim in this case," Rodriguez said. "She continued to attempt to contact him via text messages, telephone calls, driving by his house and driving by another location where the victim was with his family. . . . 

"There's actually been an offer that's been extended, I do need to discuss that offer with the victims' families . . . There is a possibility that she will plead guilty to some charges on the 31st, that's up to her attorney to discuss the offer with her and we'll know at that time whether or not she will accept it."

No charges have been brought against Whitehurst related to the alleged fourth victim because too much time has passed, Rodriguez said.

"The statute of limitations pertains to, basically on criminal counts there's a certain length of time with which we can bring charges, and if it's past that point we're no longer able to bring charges, so it falls outside that period of time," Rodriguez said.

If convicted as charged, Whitehurst could face up to 29 years in state prison.

To read previous Redlands-Loma Linda Patch coverage of the allegations against Whitehurst, click the following links:

REDLANDS TEACHER SEX: Judge Denies Whitehurst Release, Bail Now $500,000, Prosecution Offers Deal

Redlands Unified School Board on Teacher Sex Scandal: 'We Need All Facts Brought to the Surface'

Redlands Teacher Sex Alleged: 'She's a Clean-Cut American Girl' Defense Attorney Says

Alleged Teacher Sex Search Warrant Still a Concern for Redlands Unified School District

REDLANDS TEACHER SEX: Whitehurst Now Accused of 41 Sex Felonies with Former Students

Redlands Unified School District Denies Deliberate Failure to Report Teacher-Student Sex

MORE TEACHER SEX ALLEGED: Former RHS Students Claim Sexual Acts with Laura Whitehurst in Her Car, Classroom, Apartment

ALLEGED TEACHER SEX VIDEO UPDATE: Redlands School District Issues Statement

UPDATE: High School Teacher, 28, Accused of Having Sex and Baby with Student, 16