Science teacher Timothy Hughes was arrested on a felony charge on Monday for alleged misconduct against a student during his period 1 honors chemistry class.
“I was in shock and I was pretty upset that it was something that the teacher felt comfortable doing to a student,” said the sophomore student, whose name is being withheld since they are a victim and minor.
On Monday morning after the student was injured on their right arm and was externally bleeding, the student reported the incident during period 2. Police officers arrived on campus during period 3, which later led to Hughes’ arrest.
“During a lab when the other students were writing their paragraphs, there was a stapler on the desk and I picked it up and was fidgeting with it,” said the sophomore student. “He saw me grab the stapler, told me to put it down and he took it from me. He was like, ‘Give me your arm.’ Then he took the stapler and pushed it through my skin and punctured it, leaving the staple in my skin.”
Following the incident, Hughes was arrested by Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers at 12:15 p.m. during period 4 for 273D(A) PC – Corporal Injury on a Child. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Inmate Information Center, Hughes is currently being held by the LAPD West Valley Division at the LAPD Valley Jail Section in Van Nuys and is charged with a felony. A date for a court hearing has not been set, according to the Los Angeles County Superior Court website.
Hughes started teaching in August 2021 and is the school’s chapter chair of United Teachers of Los Angeles. During the class on Monday morning, there were around 12 students present in the honors chemistry class and all of them were surprised at the incident.
“It was pretty shocking because no one expected it to happen out of nowhere,” sophomore Millia Rubenyan said. “I felt nervous and like, I didn’t know what to do at the moment because it was just weird and like he was laughing and stuff.”
Principal Kimberly Figueroa-Oliveira offered resources to affected students due to Hughes’ arrest such as meeting with the Psychiatric Social Worker Joanne Tuell and reaching out to hotlines provided by the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Any staff affected can reach out to the Employee Assistance Service for Education, she said.
“I want my students to know that if they come forth with whatever it might be, they feel safe coming to me,” Figueroa-Oliveira said in an interview. “Reporting whatever it might be, no matter how ugly it might be, just knowing that there will be follow-through because student safety is the priority of our school. We can’t learn if we don’t feel safe. If the environment you’re in is where you’re scared for your safety, you cannot learn.”
A message was sent out in the afternoon on Monday informing parents about an employee’s arrest. The call was delivered by Figueroa-Oliveira.
“District protocols are being followed and we continue to cooperate with local authorities,” a LAUSD spokesperson said in an email. “Due to the ongoing investigation by law enforcement, we are unable to disclose additional details about this matter. Please be assured that the safety of our students continues to be our utmost priority. Students and the greater school community are always encouraged to share any and all concerns with their school or with local authorities.”
As of Tuesday, a substitute covered his class. It is unknown how long the substitute will be covering his classes. The injured student expresses their worries and hope for the future of their science class as well as the other science classes that are currently in session such as chemistry, physics and geology.
“Having a new teacher is going to be a hard switch for everybody,” the sophomore said. “Hopefully, we get a new teacher that is more responsible and also teaches a good curriculum I could learn from.”
