Former teacher pleads guilty to molestation

Former Chico High teacher Halden Bret Calvert, 52, pleaded guilty on March 8 in Butte County Superior Court to molesting a 17-year-old student last spring.

The student’s parents had worried their daughter was having suicidal thoughts and, after checking her diary and cellphone, they noticed indications of an affair with Calvert. Chico Police’s sex crimes division uncovered about 5,000 text messages between the student and Calvert after strong initial denials from Calvert.

Calvert, who resigned after being placed on administrative leave, will have to register as a sex offender and lose his teaching credential. He faces upwards of a year in county jail, a $5,000 fine and restitution. District Attorney Mike Ramsey said the girl has been going through counseling and realizes she was taken advantage of by an older, trusted adult.