Appeals Court Vacates Ex-Teacher's Sex Crime Convictions

Ruling cites insufficient evidence and improper testimony in case against former Granite Hills High School educator.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 8:50pm

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An extreme close-up of a cracked smartphone screen, partially obscuring a blurry image, conceptually representing the digital evidence at the center of this crime case.The appeals court's decision to vacate a former teacher's sex crime convictions highlights the complexities of prosecuting cases involving digital evidence and victim testimony.San Diego Today

A state appeals court has overturned the 2024 convictions of a former Granite Hills High School teacher, Gerald Lopez, on charges related to child sexual abuse material and child molestation involving an underage former student. The court found insufficient evidence to support the child sexual abuse material conviction and ruled that the trial judge improperly allowed prejudicial testimony from the victim while denying the defense's attempt to present rebuttal evidence.

Why it matters

The case highlights the complexities and challenges in prosecuting sex crimes against minors, where the rights of victims must be balanced against due process for the accused. The appeals court's decision raises questions about the handling of evidence and testimony in such sensitive cases.

The details

In 2022, Lopez was arrested by El Cajon police after the then-17-year-old victim's mother discovered text messages between her daughter and the former English teacher and coach. Lopez was convicted in 2024 of possessing child sexual abuse material and annoying or molesting a child, but acquitted of over a dozen other charges, with the jury hung on five counts of sending harmful material to a minor.

  • Lopez was arrested by El Cajon police in 2022.
  • Lopez was convicted by an El Cajon jury in 2024.
  • The appeals court issued its ruling on March 30, 2026.

The players

Gerald Lopez

A former English teacher and coach at Granite Hills High School who was convicted in 2024 of child sexual abuse material and child molestation charges, which have now been vacated by an appeals court.

Granite Hills High School

The East County high school where Lopez taught and coached before his arrest and conviction.

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What’s next

The appeals court has ordered a retrial on the remaining child molestation charge against Lopez.

The takeaway

This case highlights the complexities of prosecuting sex crimes against minors, where the rights of victims must be carefully balanced against the due process rights of the accused. The appeals court's decision raises important questions about the handling of evidence and testimony in such sensitive cases.