Crime & Safety

Whitehurst Pleads Not Guilty to 41 Sex Felonies with Former Students

A Redlands high school teacher pleaded not guilty Tuesday to 41 felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse and oral copulation of a person under 18 in connection with alleged relations she had with three former students during a video arraignment broadcast into a San Bernardino courtroom.

Laura Elizabeth Whitehurst, 28, appeared in green inmate clothing over a white T-shirt with her dark hair down, and she sat against a green cinderblock wall at West Valley Detention Center as she spoke softly via the telecast to Superior Court Judge Kenneth Barr.

She answered "Yes" to questions from Barr about a disposition hearing to address her bail/recognizance, and she agreed to a hearing tentatively scheduled for July 26 in San Bernardino Superior Court.

Deputy District Attorney Melissa Rodriguez requested a criminal protective order for an alleged victim she identified as John Doe, barring Whitehurst from contacting the recent Citrus Valley graduate she allegedly conceived a baby with.

Rodriguez and Whitehurst's defense attorney, James R. Gass of Redlands, spoke briefly with reporters, videographers and photographers after the hearing.

Barr ruled before the hearing that no video, still photos or other recording would be allowed in the courtroom during Whitehurst's arraignment.

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: 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


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.

More from Redlands-Loma Linda