California driving instructor accused of molesting and recording students, teen girls

Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
·2 min read
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A driving school instructor in Southern California has been arrested after police say he sexually assaulting students during lessons and also secretly recorded them during training.

Richard Joseph Banks, who worked as an instructor for American Driving School in El Cajon during the alleged crimes, was jailed without bond on Friday, San Diego Sheriff's Department records showed.

The city of El Cajon is about 15 miles from downtown San Diego.

Banks, 50, was arrested Thursday on 32 felony charges in connection to the alleged crimes, according to the agency, and is due in court to be arraigned on the charges Tuesday.

The alleged crimes, records show, include sexual battery, child abuse and molestation, possession and production of of child pornography, and installation and use of a surreptitious recording device.

The San Diego Police Department, the agency handling the case, could not immediatly be reached by USA TODAY early Friday morning.

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Students were ages 15-17, police say

But, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Banks sexually assaulted or molested 11 students, who were teenage girls, from April through November of last year.

San Diego police Capt. Mike Holden told the outlet most of the alleged victims were between age 15 and 17, and the molestations took place in northern San Diego County as well as within San Diego police jurisdiction, Holden said.

Banks also allegedly used hidden cameras in the car to record their "private" areas, the outlet reported.

'Immediately suspended': Driving school releases statement

A driving school instructor in Southern California was arrested on Jan. 11, 2024, after police said he sexually assaulting students during lessons while secretly recording them. Richard Joseph Banks, an instructor for El Cajon-based American Driving School, was jailed without bond in the San Diego jail.
A driving school instructor in Southern California was arrested on Jan. 11, 2024, after police said he sexually assaulting students during lessons while secretly recording them. Richard Joseph Banks, an instructor for El Cajon-based American Driving School, was jailed without bond in the San Diego jail.

The driving school’s owner, David Tackett, released a statement to USA TODAY Friday saying the business was "shocked to learn about the allegations" against Banks.

“His actions are his alone, and they violate the trust and policies of our company and those of the DMV regarding inappropriate behavior,” the statement reads. “He was immediately suspended when we were notified by the San Diego Police Department in November about the investigation, and he hasn’t taught any students since then."

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call San Diego police.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: California driving instructor arrested after students molested: Police