In a troubling development from West Los Angeles, authorities have announced charges against a high school counselor accused of sexually assaulting a teen student.
Julie Tichon, 37, is facing grave allegations for her actions with a 16-year-old boy, which reportedly took place in February and March of this year.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has charged Tichon with three counts of having sexual intercourse with a minor more than three years younger and one count of oral copulation with a person under the age of 18.
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The incidents have cast a shadow over the educational community, especially at YULA Los Angeles, a "Modern Orthodox Yeshiva High School" where Tichon was employed as a school counselor before the scandal.
Detective Russ Hess from the LAPD and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office laid out the details of the case.
Tichon’s actions were described as a “series of sexual assaults” against the teen.
According to Hess, Tichon exploited her position of authority to gain the trust of her victims before engaging in inappropriate sexual relationships with them. "Rather than advising them, she was abusing them," Hess stated, highlighting the perversion of Tichon’s role as a counselor.
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L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón expressed his dismay over the breach of trust, emphasizing the fundamental duty of educators and school staff to maintain a safe environment for students. “When that trust is broken, it affects the entire community,” said Gascón.
He also assured that his office is committed to seeking justice for the victim and ensuring Tichon is held fully accountable for her actions.
Tichon's preliminary court hearing is set for November 1. Should she be convicted of the charges laid against her, she faces a possibility of up to five years in prison.
However, with police believing there may be additional victims yet to come forward, the extent of the case may widen, potentially affecting the severity of the sentence.
The investigation, led by the LAPD and prosecuted by the L.A. County DA’s Sex Crimes Division, has appealed to the public for any information related to the case.
Detective Hess and Detective Brett Hopkins are the points of contact for those who can provide further insights into Tichon’s actions or identify additional victims.
The LAPD and the District Attorney’s Office have made clear their dedication to rooting out such crimes within educational institutions, promising to stand with and fight for the affected victims and families.
This case serves as a somber reminder of the responsibility shouldered by those in positions of trust within the educational system, and the devastating impact when that trust is violated.
As the legal proceedings against Julie Tichon move forward, the community awaits justice for the young victim and possibly others who suffered in silence.
Anyone with information relevant to this case is urged to reach out to the authorities to assist in the ongoing investigation.
Read the full press release from the Los Angeles Police Department:
Detectives Seek Additional Sexual Assault Victims NR24265kt/cm
The Los Angeles Police Department’s Operations West Bureau Special Assault Section (SAS) are seeking additional victims and witnesses in a series of sexual assaults in West Los Angeles.
On August 29th, 2024, investigators arrested 37-year-old Julie Tichon, a resident of Los Angeles, for a series of sexual assaults of a 16-year-old male between February and March of 2024. She was booked at Metropolitan Detention Center for 261.5(c) PC and given booking number 6874492. The Los Angeles Superior Court subsequently released Tichon on her own recognizance and she is due back in court on November 1, 2024.
On September 19th, 2024, the Office of the District Attorney filed three counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and one count of oral copulation of a person under 18.
Tichon worked as a school guidance counselor at YULA High School in West Los Angeles, but she has since left the school.
“The suspect used her position of responsibility to gain these victims’ trust, then began inappropriate sexual relationships with them,” said Detective Russ Hess. “Rather than advising them, she was abusing them.”
If convicted, Tichon could face a maximum sentence of five years in prison. Though she is charged with assaulting a single victim, investigators believe there may be other students who have yet to come forward who could potentially add to the criminal case.
Detectives are requesting that anyone with information that could lead to the identification of additional victims or witnesses to contact Detective Hess at LAPD’s Operations-West Bureau, Special Assault Section, at 213-473-0561. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (1-877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477) or go directly to www.lacrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may also visit www.lapdonline.org, and click on “Anonymous Web Tips” under the “Get Involved-Crime Stoppers” menu to submit an online tip. Lastly, tipsters may also download the “P3 Tips” mobile application and select the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers as their local program.
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