CSU Long Beach pre-school teacher accused of secretly recording in bathroom

LONG BEACH, CA (FOX 11) - A pre-school teacher at California State University Long Beach has been arrested on suspicion of secretly videotaping someone in a campus bathroom.

Police took 38-year-old Ernesto Jason Higuera of Long Beach into custody on suspicion of invasion of privacy by videotaping or photographing in a public restroom.

"I wouldn't even expect that happening in our school," said Angelo Liwanag, a student who said he had not seen any alerts from the University about the incident.

A CSULB spokesperson said a 15-year-old boy attending a conference inside the College of Business Administration Saturday alerted a faculty member to "disorderly conduct in a men's restroom." What the boy specifically saw is still unclear, but the faculty member called 911 prompting University Police to respond.

"You wouldn't really notice until someone actually looks up and sees it," said student Andrew Hua.

University officials confirmed Ernesto Higuera worked at the school's Isabel Patterson Child Development Center, where students with children can leave their little ones while they attend class.

The College of Business is a 10-minute walk from the Child Development Center.

Parents of children at the center attended an impromptu meeting Monday night with staff and police to ask questions about the teacher's arrest. Many were concerned about the background check and screening process for teachers and staff.

When asked if she was satisfied with the school's response, parent Victoria Schmidt responded, "Somewhat, I would say," adding, "I think there should be more measures -- especially in today's world where anything could happen now -- to make sure that doesn't happen again."

In a statement, a University spokesperson said Higuera was "immediately placed on leave and has subsequently resigned from his position." The statement also noted, "At this time, there is no apparent connection between this incident ... and his work."

Higuera was released Saturday night after posting a $25,000 bond.

Police say he was instructed not to return to campus at all.