Former La Mesa charter-school math teacher receives three-year prison term for sexual relationship with 17-year-old student

Sentencing in San Diego County court follows plea to reduced charge

A former math teacher at The Learning Choice Academy in La Mesa has been sentenced to three years in state prison for unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, ending a case that centered on a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old student. Court records and prosecutors described the conduct as occurring while the teacher held a position of authority over the student.

The defendant, Michael Davis, was sentenced Thursday in San Diego County Superior Court. The prison term followed a guilty plea to a single count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor more than three years younger than the defendant. The conviction also carries mandatory sex-offender registration as a Tier One registrant for a minimum of 10 years under California’s tiered registration system.

How the case came to authorities and how it changed in court

Investigators arrested Davis in 2025 after allegations surfaced of a sexual relationship with the student. As the case progressed, the prosecution initially filed roughly a dozen felony counts, including allegations involving contact and sexual acts with a minor. The matter ultimately resolved through a plea agreement that reduced the case to a single count.

At the sentencing hearing, the prosecution emphasized that teacher-student sexual conduct is prosecuted differently from relationships between peers because of the power imbalance inherent in the educator role and the duty schools owe to protect students. The defense argued the sexual activity was consensual and noted the absence of prior criminal history.

School context: hybrid charter model serving multiple San Diego-area communities

The Learning Choice Academy operates as a charter school with a hybrid homeschool model, offering both fully home-based options and a schedule that combines on-campus instruction with at-home days. The program serves transitional kindergarten through 12th grade and has additional campuses in the county, including in Chula Vista and the Clairemont Mesa East area.

What the sentence means and what remains unresolved

• The sentence imposes a three-year state prison term.
• The conviction triggers Tier One sex-offender registration for at least 10 years.
• The plea narrows the case from multiple counts to a single criminal conviction.

In California, unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor can be prosecuted even when the minor is above the general age of consent, depending on age differences and circumstances. In teacher-student cases, the legal and ethical focus often includes the educator’s position of trust and authority.

Court proceedings also left at least one procedural issue pending at the time of reporting: whether Davis would remain free on bail during the period leading up to incarceration, a decision expected after sentencing.

The case adds to a steady flow of teacher misconduct prosecutions in San Diego County courts, highlighting how criminal cases involving school employees can evolve from broad charging documents to narrower outcomes through plea negotiations, while still resulting in prison time and long-term registration requirements.