Deshawn Mitchell, a 21-year-old substitute security guard at Columbia Middle School in Adelanto, has been arrested on charges of child molestation, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Mitchell faces allegations of committing a lewd act with a child under 14 years old, specifically a 13-year-old female student at the school.
If your child has been the victim of sexual abuse by a school employee at Adelanto Elementary School District or any other educational institution, don’t wait. Contact Dordulian Law Group at (866) GO-SEE-SAM immediately for your FREE & CONFIDENTIAL consultation.
The arrest took place around 11:30 a.m. at the Sheriff’s Adelanto Station. Mitchell was booked into San Bernardino County Jail with bail set at $250,000, pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday at the Victorville branch of San Bernardino County Superior Court.
The arrest of Deshawn Travian Mitchell resulted from a thorough investigation conducted by multiple units of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. The Specialized Investigations Division, Crimes Against Children Detail, and the Sheriff’s Victor Valley Station worked collaboratively to build the case against Mitchell, according to a report from the Victorville Daily Press.
According to sheriff’s spokeswoman Gloria Orejel, the victim was identified as a 13-year-old girl attending Columbia Middle School. The Adelanto Elementary School District cooperated fully with investigators to ensure a comprehensive inquiry into the matter, according to a San Bernadino County Sheriff’s Department press release.
As the legal process unfolds, Mitchell faces serious consequences if convicted of the charges against him. The crime of committing a lewd act with a minor carries severe penalties in California, potentially resulting in substantial prison time and lifelong registration as a sex offender.
The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities calling for anyone with additional information to come forward. Detective Marissa Pope of the Crimes Against Children Detail is leading the investigation and can be reached at (909) 890-4904. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to the We-Tip hotline at (800) 782-7463.
The arrest of Deshawn Travian Mitchell, a 21-year-old substitute security guard at an Adelanto middle school, serves as another devastating reminder that predators can infiltrate even the places we trust most to keep our children safe. Mitchell was taken into custody and booked on suspicion of committing a lewd act with a child under 14 years old, highlighting yet another heartbreaking breach of trust that leaves lasting trauma on young victims and their families.
As school sexual abuse attorneys who have dedicated our careers to protecting survivors – particularly through our specialized SAJE Team (Sexual Assault Justice Experts) – we want parents and students to understand their rights when those entrusted to keep schools safe instead become predators.
The allegations against Mitchell are particularly troubling because they involve a substitute security guard – someone temporarily entrusted with student safety – allegedly victimizing a child under 14. This case joins a disturbing pattern of school employees across California exploiting their positions of authority to abuse the very children they’re supposed to protect.
These cases are particularly egregious because:
While not all concerning behavior indicates abuse, parents should be alert to these potential warning signs:
Cases like the one in Adelanto require immediate, comprehensive legal action. When a child is sexually abused by a school employee, multiple legal avenues may be available:
Sexual abuse cases involving minors require attorneys with specific expertise and sensitivity. At Dordulian Law Group, our SAJE Team approach provides:
Dordulian Law Group was founded by Sam Dordulian, a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County. Prior to founding D Law Group, Dordulian worked tirelessly to successfully secure life sentences against countless sex offenders, thereby making our communities safer.
Today, he and the D Law Group SAJE Team help victims of sexual abuse secure justice through civil claims. Dordulian and his team have helped clients obtain more than $200 million in settlements and verdicts while maintaining a near-perfect 98% winning record in all cases.
Dordulian Law Group supports parents, educators, and community members in working together to create an environment where children feel safe to speak up about any inappropriate behavior.
Too often, these cases remain hidden because victims are afraid to speak up. Children may fear:
Parents and school communities must create environments where children feel safe reporting inappropriate behavior from any adult, regardless of their position.
School districts cannot simply dismiss these incidents as isolated cases. They must:
Every child deserves to feel safe at school. When that fundamental trust is broken, survivors and their families deserve justice – not just criminal prosecution of the perpetrator, but full accountability from the institutions that failed to protect them.
Our comprehensive approach through the SAJE Team ensures that every aspect of your family’s needs is addressed with the sensitivity, expertise, and determination these cases demand.
Mitchell has been booked on suspicion of committing a lewd act with a child under 14 years old.
The victim is reported to be a 13-year-old female student at Columbia Middle School.
Bail for Mitchell has been set at $250,000 pending his initial court appearance.
The investigation is being conducted by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Specialized Investigations Division, Crimes Against Children Detail, and the Sheriff’s Victor Valley Station.
Anyone with information can contact Detective Marissa Pope of the Crimes Against Children Detail at (909) 890-4904. Anonymous tips can also be submitted to the We-Tip hotline at (800) 782-7463.
While specific measures have not been announced, it’s likely that the school district will review and strengthen its hiring processes, background checks, and security protocols in light of this incident.
The attorneys at Dordulian Law Group have over 75 years of combined experience protecting the rights of sexual assault survivors in Los Angeles and throughout California.
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