Expand / Collapse search
☰

Santa Monica High School teacher arrested over alleged relationship with student, 16

By
Published  February 6, 2025 8:45am PST
Crime and Public Safety
FOX 11

Ingo Gaida / Santa Monica PD

The Brief

    • Ingo Horst Gaida, 58, allegedly engaged in inappropriate activities with a 16-year-old student since 2024, police said.
    • Gaida was employed as a science teacher at Santa Monica High School.
    • He was cited for two misdemeanors and released pending a court appearance.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. - A Santa Monica High School science teacher who is accused of having an inappropriate relationship with a 16-year-old student was arrested Wednesday, according to police. 

An investigation that began on Jan. 27 revealed the suspect, 58-year-old Ingo Horst Gaida of Los Angeles, had been engaged in inappropriate activities with the teen across multiple locations in Los Angeles County since the end of 2024.

Gaida was booked on charges including annoying or molesting a child under 18 and contributing to the delinquency of a minor - both of which are misdemeanors, police said. 

Gaida, who has no prior criminal history, was cited and released pending a court appearance.

If anyone has any additional information or has also been the victim of abuse by this teacher, please contact Officer Destiny King at (310) 458-6679, Sgt. David Haro at (310) 458-8952, or the Watch Commander desk 24 hours a day at (310) 458-8427.

The Source: Information for this story is from the Santa Monica Police Department.

Crime and Public SafetySanta Monica