Teachers Melody Lippert And Michelle Ghirelli Arrested For Alleged Sexual Relations With Students

Teachers Melody Lippert and Michelle Ghirelli were arrested over the weekend after allegedly having sex with multiple students from South Hills High School in the Covina-Valley Unified School District.

Two Teachers Arrested For Having Sex With Students

According to reports, Lippert, 38, first began having sexual relations with students in November, when she invited a group of male students to meet her at San Clemente Beach. Lippert allegedly “provided alcohol to the students and engaged in a sexual relationship with one of them.”

Weeks later, Lippert organized an unauthorized, overnight camping trip with several high school students and invited Ghirelli along. On the trip, which was not sanctioned by South Hills High School, Ghirelli and Lippert allegedly had sex with two students, though it’s unclear whether one of the students was the one previously engaged in sexual activity with Lippert. “During the camping trip Lippert and Ghirelli are suspected of engaging in sexual relations with two students,” said the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in a statement.

Melody Lippert and Michelle Ghirelli Out On Bail

Lippert is charged with Conspiracy and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor and was being held on a $20,000 bail. Ghirelli, on the other hand, was arrested for Oral Copulation and Unlawful Sex with a Minor on a $50,000 bail. Ghirelli, like Lippert, has reportedly posted bail, and both were released on Sunday. They are expected back in court on Wednesday, Jan. 21, for arraignment.

Lippert, currently a teacher at South Hills High School, and Ghirelli, who was a teacher at South Hills before moving to work in the school district offices, have both been put on paid administrative leave.

“As soon as we found out about this, we contacted the Police Department. We’re taking the matter very, very seriously,” said Covina-Valley Unified School District spokesperson Michelle Van Der Linden.