The teacher who left his wife and three children to move in with his 18-year-old former student was arrested Friday for allegedly sexually abusing a different student 14 years ago.
Christopher James Hooker, 41, made national headlines in February when he revealed his relationship with 18-year-old Jordan Powers, who he met while teaching at Enochs High School in Modesto, Calif.
The couple appeared on several talk shows to defend their relationship even as the story motivated California lawmakers to propose stricter legislation to ban student-teacher relationships regardless of age.
The Associated Press reported that California police began investigating Hooker for a 1998 incident, which involved a 17-year-old student, soon after his television appearances.
Hooker is accused of committing oral copulation with a person under 18, a charge stemming from his days as a teacher at Davis High School in Modesto.
He remains in police custody after entering a not guilty plea in court.
Powers’ mother, Tammie Powers, who has been outspoken in her disapproval of her daughter’s relationship, posted a Facebook message that read: “Yes, confirmed James Hooker is in custody (sic). I am with my daughter as I post this.”
Police are still investigating whether Hooker violated California’s age of consent law, which is 18, in his relationship with Jordan Powers.
Hooker met Jordan Powers when she was 14 years old; however the couple has insisted in interviews that their relationship did not become sexual until she turned 18. Hooker resigned from his teaching position shortly after going public with the relationship.
The Sacramento Bee reported that Tammie Powers reunited with her daughter this afternoon at Hooker’s apartment, where they packed up her things before catching a flight to an undisclosed location.