EL CAJON (CNS) – A former Granite Hills High School teacher convicted of sexual misconduct charges involving a former minor student was sentenced Wednesday to six months in county jail, although he will remain free pending a appeal in his case.

Gerald Lopez, 56, who taught English and coached sports at the East County school, was arrested in 2022 by El Cajon police after the victim’s 17-year-old mother discovered a series of text messages between her daughter and Lopez.

Lopez was convicted by an El Cajon jury last month of possession of child pornography and felony annoyance or molestation of a child.

The same jury acquitted Lopez of more than a dozen other charges and suspended five counts of sending harmful material to a minor. Superior Court Judge John Thompson dismissed the deadlocked accounts.

On Wednesday, Thompson sentenced Lopez to 180 days in jail and two years of formal probation for the crime, to include an “extensive” 4th Amendment waiver that would allow police to search him on Lopez without a warrant or probable cause, including his electronics and social media, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s office.

The DA’s office said that following his plea, Lopez will be allowed to remain out of custody pending his appeal.

During the trial, Assistant District Attorney Josh Brisbane told jurors that Lopez exchanged sexually motivated text messages and images with the girl over several months, while Lopez’s attorney, Robert Boyce, argued that his client did not he intends to pursue anything with the girl. until after he turned 18.

After the girl’s mother discovered the texts, she reported her to the school. Lopez was initially placed on unpaid leave, but school district officials announced in August 2022 that he was no longer working for the district.