Grangeville Teacher Arrested On Sex Charges Allegations Of Misconduct Also Reported At Previous Schools

A Grangeville High School teacher and coach has been charged with two felony counts of sexual battery of a minor.

Oscar J. Salinas, 30, was arrested Saturday at the Idaho County sheriff’s office, where he had gone for an interview.

Second District Court Judge George Reinhardt on Monday set his bail at $100,000. A preliminary hearing was slated for April 4.

Salinas is alleged to have had manual-genital contact with a 17-year-old female Grangeville High School student on March 21, and fondled her breasts a number of times between Dec. 23 and March 21.

The investigation began after the girl went to a counselor. Salinas has taught Spanish at Grangeville since September. He is boys head basketball coach, and assistant football and baseball coach.

He previously was at Clearwater Valley High School at Kooskia for a year. Kooskia is in the Grangeville district. Before that, he taught at Centennial High School at Meridian for six years.

Idaho County Prosecutor Jeff Payne argued for a high bail because he said there were allegations of misconduct by Salinas at both previous schools.

Grangeville Joint School District Superintendent Al Arnzen and Grangeville High principal Gary Stears said they were unaware of any problems with Salinas’ employment at Meridian.

Meridian Deputy Superintendent Dan Mabe on Monday said there was nothing mentioning Salinas in the district’s legal file.

Arnzen said an investigation was conducted a year ago by the sheriff’s office after an anonymous complaint was received, but no evidence of any misconduct was found.