Former 6th-grade teacher accused of sex with student

SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (KTLA) -- A former Simi Valley elementary school teacher was behind bars on Wednesday, accused of having a sexual relationship with a student under the age of 14.

Malia Brooks, 32, surrendered to authorities at the Simi Valley Police Station at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Simi Valley police said.

She was booked on suspicion of one count of lewd acts on a child and four other sex-related counts involving a child under 14 years of age.

Brooks worked as a 6th-grade teacher at Garden Grove Elementary School, detective Casey Nicholson said at a news conference Wednesday morning.

Officials with the Simi Valley Unified School District notified police on Feb. 22 about allegations of inappropriate conduct between a teacher and a student, he said.

The student was a boy under the age of 14, Nicholson said.

Simi Valley police detectives immediately began an investigation.

Brooks was placed on administrative leave and subsequently resigned, school district officials said.

Brooks was being held on $2 million bail.

There was no information to indicate that there might be any additional victims, police said.

“The school and District administration have fully cooperated with the Simi Valley Police investigation,” district officials said in a statement.

The distinct has provided counselors and psychologists to work with students who might be impacted or concerned by the events, the statement also said.

Brooks was featured as the Ventura County Star’s “Cook du Jour” in October 2011.

She was married with two kids, according to the feature. Records indicated that she was now divorced.