A charming family-friendly California city has been rocked after a married female teacher was arrested for allegedly sexually assaulting a student.
Samantha Watson, 41, of Eastvale, was taken into custody on Friday at her $1.2 million home after investigators learned that she allegedly had 'inappropriate contact with a student' from 2017 to 2018, the Riverside County Sheriff's Office said.
Watson, a married step-mother, was employed as a teacher at a charter school located in the 23000 block of Sunnymead Boulevard in Moreno Valley when the alleged crime took place, the agency said.
Although officials did not disclose the exact name of the school, it appears that Options for Youth Public Charter Schools operates in that area.
Watson is also an accredited PhD student who got her degree at Northern Arizona University, and was part of Ecological and Environmental Informatics Research team there, the Daily Mail has learned.
The millionaire penned three scientific publications during her time at the university, and worked on projects that were focused on climate change, forest ecology, phenology, and more, according to her academic profile.
A probe into Watson started on January 28 after the sheriff's office received reports of the alleged crime, investigators said.
She was taken into custody without incident for oral copulation, digital penetration, and sending harmful material to a juvenile, according to authorities.
Samantha Watson, 41, of Eastvale, California, was arrested on Friday after investigators learned that she allegedly had 'inappropriate contact with a student' from 2017 to 2018, the Riverside County Sheriff's Office said
She shares a $1.2 million home with her husband, Willie Watson Jr., 43, according to public records
Detectives believe there may be more than one victim who was allegedly assaulted by Watson, and have asked the public to come forward if they know more.
Watson was booked into the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside.
She was later released on a $60,000 bail, the Riverside County Sheriff's Office told the Daily Mail.
Watson is due in court on July 8, according to arrest records.
Prior to her arrest, Watson's life seemed typical of that of a middle-aged mother and wife, according to her social media.
She and her husband, Willie Watson Jr., 43, share the six-bedroom, five-bathroom home together, public records showed.
It appears that Willie coaches the softball team that one of her two step-daughters plays on, with Watson's last posting on September 30 showing a child practicing her swing.
Her page is almost entirely full of her supporting the softball team, and it also gives a bit of a glimpse into who Watson is.
Detectives believe there may be more than one victim who was allegedly assaulted by Watson, and have asked the public to come forward with more information if they know more
Watson's listed 'favorite quotes' on Facebook appear to show beliefs she likes to follow in life.
She wrote: 'We are the dreamers of dreams...
'Learn to love without condition, talk without bad intention, give without reason, and most of all care for people without any expectation.
'Time is like the ocean; you can only hold a little in your hands.'
But her dreams could all come to an end if she is found guilty of the charges brought against her.
If convicted of oral copulation, Watson could spend anywhere from one to more than 15 years in state prison.
A digital penetration charge is considered a serious felony that ranges from probation to up to 12 years in prison.
According to her Facebook, Watson is the step-mother to Willie's two daughters. (Pictured: The husband and wife)
A charge of sending harmful material to a juvenile can be classified as a misdemeanor or felony, and can result in six months to five years in state prison.
Eastvale, which is about an hour outside of Los Angeles, is known as a clean and safe suburb with 'highly rated' public schools, according to Niche.
The Daily Mail contacted the Riverside County Sheriffs office and Watson for comment.