A former Mountain View Academy teacher and coach has been arrested on suspicion of inappropriately and repeatedly touching a former student, among other charges.

Rocklin resident Robert Hicks, 62, was arrested March 2 by Mountain View detectives with the assistance of the Rocklin Police Department on suspicion of several charges including oral copulation of a person under the age of 18, molestation of a minor and lewd and lascivious acts with a child. He is currently being held without bail at the Santa Clara County Jail.

In April of 2020, Mountain View patrol officers received a call from a woman who wished to report inappropriate conduct between Hicks and a female family member, who was a teenager. Officers immediately began to investigate the case and conduct follow-up investigation with the victim while remaining cognizant of how traumatizing the incidents can be.  

Over the course of the next year and a half, detectives learned that Hicks had repeatedly inappropriately touched the victim and that over time, the behavior and the contact aggressively escalated.

Some may ask about the time between the initial report and the arrest, so we want to address that here. As with all of our cases, we work to ensure that there is a thorough investigation, which can take time. Particularly when it comes to sex crimes investigations, we always prioritize the psychological and physical safety of the victim, which can also lead to more time needed during an investigation.

After months of interviews and additional follow-up, in February 2022 detectives were able to request an arrest warrant for Hicks.

“I am acutely aware of how emotionally taxing these investigations can be, particularly for the victim,” said Lt. Armando Espitia. “I am grateful for the tenacity our detectives had in this case to work to bring justice to the victim. We remain ever-committed to working to ensure that all who call Mountain View home are safe and protected from those who would do harm.”

Detectives believe there may be additional victims who have had similar experiences with Hicks. If you or anyone you know may be a victim, please contact Detective Christine Powell at Christine.powell@mountainview.gov.

Media inquiries can be sent to PIO Katie Nelson at policepio@mountainview.gov.