Montclair Police Department Sex Crimes Unit is investigating a 53-year-old choir director allegedly caught with a 15-year-old student Sunday morning.

Police say a patrol officer was on routine patrol when he noticed a suspiciously-parked vehicle in an alley in the 10200 block of Central Avenue at 9 a.m. Sunday.  When the officer approached, he allegedly saw Mark Michaels (pictured) with the girl, “performing lewd acts.”

Michaels was arrested and is being held at the Rancho Cucamonga West Valley Detention Center. Michaels is being held on $50,000 bond.

Upon further investigation, police said the young girl was a student of Michaels, who is a choir director at Bethany Baptist Church in the 9900 block of Monte Vista Avenue.

“During the investigation that information was provided to us by both parties,” said Lt. Jason Reed.                        

Reed said the two have known each other for approximately two years.

Detectives worry there could be more victims and hope that anyone with information will step forward.

If you or a loved one is involved in a serious or fatal sexual abuse incident:

• Insist that a report is filed by the Police Department or Sheriff’s Department;
• Obtain essential information (i.e., name, address, insurance information, adults name, business address of any and all persons involved in the abuse incident);
• Photograph the visible injuries and keep copies of all documentation;
• Shut up!  Talk to no one about the incident or your injuries other than your attorney or doctor, never to an insurance adjuster or insurance investigator.  Do not volunteer a statement to any insurance company especially one who works for the sexual predator;
• Sign absolutely nothing without consulting a lawyer;
• Seek medical attention immediately and keep a diary of your level of pain;
• Keep all receipts for all medical expenses and/or funeral bills and wage loss records;
• Contact the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler an experienced law firm immediately to protect your rights and preserve the evidence!

Demand accountability from those responsible for the sexual abuse incident.  An adult is a person who owes your child the “highest duty of care!” Many times the insurance companies for the foster care companies (i.e., many times they are “self insured”) will play “hardball” if you try to settle the case yourself or you have employed a lawyer who does not have the litigation experience to handle such a complex sexual abuse case.  We at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler have twenty years of litigation experience and know how to handle the insurance companies to your advantage.  Remember, cases against the churches and schools have a very short time to file the proper government claim which must be filed first, way before the actual lawsuit is filed! We are prepared to front all costs required for the neccessary investigation and expert witnesses needed to prepare your case for trial as well as file all government claims.  Unfortunately, the reality is that most sexual abuse victims usually sustain serious/catastrophic injuries which many times results in death.  Over the past twenty years attorney Gary A Kessler has a proven successful track record demanding accountability from the responsible parties and obtaining outstanding results for his clients.

The laws regarding sexual abuse cases are complex and include many facets of the law.  It is vital to surviving family members to seek the advice of an experienced sexual abuse lawyer such as Gary A Kessler at the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler to protect your rights and those of your loved ones.

The California sexual abuse attorney Gary A Kessler and the Law Offices of Gary A Kessler are compassionate and fully understand that you are attempting to cope with serious injuries associated with a sexual abuse incident.  Such incidents can lead to catastrophic injuries or even death.  The Law Offices of Gary A Kessler carefully selects its wrongful death and sexual abuse cases so that we may give you (the client) the substantial personal attention neccessary to obtain a successful result for your sexual abuse case.