An Orange County biology teacher and former NFL player was charged with two misdemeanors of child annoyance Tuesday after months of piecing the case together, prosecutors said.
Joe Orduna, 63, is accused of inappropriate contact and making sexually suggestive comments to two 16-year-old female students between April and June 2011, police said.
"He basically was talking about his sex life and kissed one girl on the lips," said Cpl. Anthony Bertagna with Santa Ana police. "The second victim was also on campus and he groped her on the backside."
Students at Godinez High School said the biology teacher and wrestling coach was flirtatious.
"He’d give you a hug and kiss you on the cheek," said student Carolina Marquez, who speculated that perhaps a student took that behavior the wrong way.
Police showed up at Orduna’s Irvine home about 7 a.m. Tuesday and placed him under arrest, according to neighbors, who said they were shocked at the news.
"I’m shocked, close to tears," said Edith Tobin, Orduna’s neighor. "I can’t image him doing it."
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Orduna was a football hall of famer at University of Nebraska, and went on to play for the New York Giants and Baltimore Colts in the 1970s.
Orduna is being held on $25,000 bail. If convicted, he could face up to two years in jail.
Prosecutors encouraged other teens who may have been victimized to contact Detective Ed Zaragoza at 714-245-8351 or Investigator Carl Waddell at 714-834-7538.
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