Teacher admits guilt in sex case

A former Chula Vista special education teacher pleaded guilty Feb. 7 to seven counts of performing oral copulation and lewd acts with a 4-year-old girl who was not his student.

Loren Grage McDonald, 37, agreed to accept a “stipulated” sentence of 18 years in state prison, said Deputy District Attorney Marisa Di Tillio. Probation is ruled out.

McDonald will have to serve 85 percent of that 18-year term, said Di Tillio. San Diego Superior Court Judge Peter Deddeh set sentencing for March 11. The prosecutor said McDonald admitted to having “substantial sexual conduct” with the victim that adds more time to the sentence.

The girl may have been the youngest witness ever to testify in San Diego Superior Court. A police detective said McDonald told the girl not to tell anyone about it because “he would go to jail.”

McDonald is housed at the George Bailey Detention Facility on $2 million bail.