Crime & Safety

Teacher Faces 20 Charges for Alleged Sex Crimes With Former Student, Arraignment Rescheduled

Andrew Cottrell is being held on $1.1 million bail, says he needs to find an attorney.

The Clayton middle school teacher who Walnut Creek Police said confessed to unlawful sexual intercourse with a former student has been given two weeks by a judge to find an attorney.

Andrew Bruce Cottrell, 41, told Superior Court Judge Nancy Davis Stark on Tuesday afternoon that he needs to "check [his] finances" before hiring an attorney or considering a public defender prior to entering a plea.

Stark pushed Cottrell's arraignment date to Dec. 29. The judge added Cottrell is not to have contact, "direct or indirect," with the victim throughout proceedings. 

Find out what's happening in Concordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Stark listed 19 felony charges and a misdemeanor against Cottrell before a mostly empty courtroom. The 20 charges include unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor under 16; lewd acts with a victim who is 15 years or 14 years old and oral copulation with victim under 16 years old.

Cottrell is being held at the Contra Costa County jail with bail set at $1.1 million.

Find out what's happening in Concordwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Walnut Creek and Clayton Police arrested Cottrell at Diablo View Middle school in Clayton Friday afternoon as soon as a warrant was approved, according to Walnut Creek Police Sgt. Tom Cashion. 

Cashion told Patch last week measures were taken to minimize exposure of the arrest and that police felt it was important to arrest him as soon as possible since " ... [he was] in a position of trust with kids."

Click here for more on that story and stay tuned to Patch as we cover each upcoming court appearance in this case. 


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