High School Teacher Will Go to Prison for Sex with Student

Mark Christopher Litton, a Walnut Creek resident and former English teacher who was once described by students as "creative and inspired," pleaded no contest to charges that he had sex with an underage girl who had been a student of his at Miramonte High School

Litton, now 35, pleaded no contest to two charges of statutory rape, two counts of sexual penetration of a person under the age of 18, and one count of oral copulation of a person under the age of 18. This is what Contra Costa Deputy District Attorney Johanna Schonfield told the Contra Costa Times. For his no-contest plea, Litton will be sentenced to two years in state prison. The Times says that the judge will not require Litton to register as a sex offender.

Litton was charged with five counts, stemming from two separate encounters with "Jane Doe" on July 2 and July 4, 2009 in Walnut Creek. Litton's address shows that, at the time of these encounters, he lived in a second-floor apartment in an older building not far from downtown Walnut Creek and the Mercer complex. 

Litton was charged with committing unlawful sexual intercourse, sexual penetration of a person under the age of 18, and oral copulation with a minor on July 2, 2009. He was also charged with unlawful sexual interourse and sexual penetration of a minor on July 4, 2009

After his arrest, in September, Litton was placed on unpaid leave and his teaching credential was suspended following his arrest. 

Litton was in custody at the Contra Costa County Jail in Martinez, awaiting transport to the state prison system. The Acalanes Union High School District, which initially put him on unpaid leave following his arrest, has terminated his employment.