Santa Cruz County middle school principal pleads not guilty to sex assault charges
SANTA CRUZ — The principal of Watsonville’s Edward A. Hall Middle School pleaded not guilty to a series of felony sexual assault charges this week.
Pajaro Valley Unified School District administration has placed Dagoberto Garcia, 58, on paid administrative leave during the court proceedings. He has served as the school principal for the past two years.
Garcia is facing two counts of oral copulation with an intoxicated victim, rape of an intoxicated woman and two counts of penetration with a foreign object, plus a special enhancement for a serious felony violation. He is scheduled to appear at 8:15 a.m. March 27 before Santa Cruz County Superior Court Judge Stephen Siegel to set a preliminary hearing date.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office is seeking additional victims in the early stages of its investigation. Officials are asking anyone with information to contact the office’s non-emergency dispatch line at 831-471-1121.