A former Ocean City High School teacher accused of sexually assaulting a student is back in Cape May County.
Ricardo Valle, 34, was arrested Feb. 27 in Texas, where he now lives.
He was transferred out of Harris County Jail's custody Tuesday, and is now in the Cape May County Correctional Center, jail records show.
Valle is accused abusing the teen in 2016, when he was a music teacher at the school.
The assaults began during an overnight field trip to Washington, D.C., that March, the victim told investigators.
On the last day of school, Valle allegedly told a group of students he would not be returning the next year, and then got the girl alone in a storage area by telling her he wanted to "say a proper goodbye."
That's when he allegedly attacked her, leaving the girl bruised. She told investigators she was able to break free from Valle and fled the room.
The criminal charges include two counts of sexual assault, along with one count each of official misconduct, endangering the welfare of a child and criminal sexual contact.
Valle could face five to 10 years in prison for the sexual assault and misconduct charges.
The investigation is ongoing.
Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland is urging anyone who has additional information to call his office at 609-465-1135 or Ocean City police at 609-525-9131.
Information may also be provide anonymously through the Cape May County Sheriff’s Tip Line at cmcsheriff.net and click on anonymous tip, or through the Cape May County Crime Stoppers at 609-889-3597.
