Brian Hook Facing Multiple Felonies for Having Sex with Underaged Minor

The Orcutt Resident is a Social Sciences Teacher and Girl’s Basketball Coach

by Jae Brattain | posted 02.25.2014

Detectives from the Santa Maria Police Department investigated Brian Thomas Hook after there were accusation that he had multiple inappropriate relations with a student at Pioneer Valley High School.  The first incident took place around January 14th.  There was also a second occurrence, which happened around February 13th.  The name of the alleged victim was not, and likely will not, be released because she is only 16-years old.

Brian Thomas Hook

Authorities from the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District contacted local law enforcement on February 19th.  They had been alerted of the sexual encounters by Pioneer Valley High staff members.  Brian Hook, who is 53-years old, was said to have committed several sexual assaults against one of the students over a 4-month period.

The next day, police obtained a search warrant and went to Hook’s home.  They also investigated other locations related to the crime, but the specific areas were not identified.  Once they served the warrant, Hook was taken into custody and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail.

At the time of his incarceration, he was being charged with oral copulation, unlawful intercourse, and penetration of a foreign object.  Each of the charges have to do with a minor and all are felony level.  His bail bond was set at $100,000.

Pioneer Valley girls basketball coach Brian Hook talks to his team during a timeout against St. Joseph on Jan. 15, 2014.

 

As a certificated teacher and coach, Hook was in a position of authority.  Due to the fact that investigation is still in progress, not many details have come to light.  District authorities have only indicated that they are working with law enforcement.  Police are urging that anyone with information about this case contact their detective bureau.  The detective in charge is Sgt. Paul Van Meel.

According to Santa Barbara County District Attorney Joyce Dudley, the defendant will be facing four felony charges total for his sexual encounter with the minor.  He will be going to court in the Santa Maria Cook division of the Santa Barbara County Superior Court.

Ubaldo De La Cruz-Gonzales and Carlos Rojas-Villafana Accused of Rape

Victim Forcibly Assaulted at Home of Suspects

by Jae Brattain | posted 01.28.2014

A woman reported she had been a victim of rape to the Santa Barbara Rape Crisis Center on October 24, 2013.  A representative from the organization accompanied the victim to the Santa Barbara Police Department the next day to file charges.

Detectives began an investigation gathering evidence of the crime.  Over a three month period, they were able to conduct personal interviews, gather medical information about the victim through forensics analysis, and conducting surveillance to identify the perpetrators.

Ubaldo De La Cruz-Gonzalez

The victim indicated that she had went with a friend to the home of the assailants located near the corner of North Milpas Street and East Yanonali Street.  They went to “party” and consume alcohol around 10:00 pm on the evening of October 23rd.  After a short time, the friend left the victim alone with Ubaldo De La Cruz-Gonzales and Carlos Rojas-Villafana.

Approximately 40-minutes after the women arrived, the victim tried to leave the house.  However, the two men blocked her path.  They then began forcing her to have sex multiple times.  It was not until the morning that they released the woman.  She told them she had to report to work.  The next day she went to the Rape Crisis Center.

Carlos Rojas-Villafana

Police contacted the two men at their place of work on the East Side of Santa Barbara.  Shortly afterwards, they were taken into custody and transported to Santa Barbara County Jail.

The first man, De La Cruz-Gonzales, was booked for rape, oral copulation, and digital penetration.  Each crime was committed through physical force.  Rojas-Villafana is being accused of felony assault with intent to commit rape, sexual battery, and also digital penetration by force.  The bail bond amount for both men has been set at $100,000 each.