VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) - The Escondido teacher accused of sexually molesting two underage teenage boys is denying all charges and pleading not guilty.
Travis Putnam, 33, is charged with four counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a teen age 14 and 15.
Prosecutors say the incidents happened between 2014 and 2018.
The judge set Putnam’s bond at $500,000, and in an unusual turn of events, Putnam didn’t argue the amount.
Putnam’s defense attorney said they will fight the charges. He went on to say sexual assault cases are hard to prove, and the truth will come out with the evidence.
His attorney also said the teacher’s union has said they plan on fighting to keep Putnam employed at the high school.
The prosecuting attorney said if Putnam is found guilty he could spend five years behind bars and register as a sex offender.
Students at the high school said they were surprised by the charges their teacher is facing.
A senior at Orange Glen High school Fernando Corona says, “I was really surprised because he wouldn’t seem like the type to do something like that.”
Putnam is due back in court on February 14.
He remains behind bars on a $500,000 bond.
