A former guidance counselor at a private Orthodox Jewish high school in West Los Angeles has been charged with multiple felonies over an alleged unlawful sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student in early 2024, authorities said. The counselor, identified by prosecutors as Julie Elizabeth Tichon, 37, was arrested in late August 2024, arraigned Sept. 19 and released on her own recognizance.
Officials said the case matters now because detectives are still building the record while prosecutors press the charges in court. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office charged Tichon with three felony counts of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor more than three years younger and one felony count of oral copulation of a person under 18. The Los Angeles Police Department has asked anyone with information to come forward as investigators examine whether additional victims or witnesses exist. School leaders said the employee no longer works at the campus.
Police said the alleged conduct occurred between February and March 2024 while Tichon worked at Yeshiva University High School of Los Angeles, commonly known as YULA, in the Pico-Robertson area. Investigators said the encounters happened off campus and in private settings. Detectives with LAPD’s Operations West Bureau opened the case after a report from within the school community. During the Sept. 19 court appearance, Tichon entered a not-guilty plea and was ordered to follow standard release terms. In brief remarks about the filing, District Attorney George Gascón described the allegations as a breach of trust by an adult in a position of authority. Police said they continue to canvass for security video and digital records that may clarify the timeline.
Authorities said evidence gathered so far includes interviews, charging documents and communications obtained pursuant to search warrants. Officials did not disclose the precise number of alleged encounters beyond what is included in the four felony counts. The student was enrolled at YULA during the period in question, according to investigators familiar with the case. The school said administrators notified law enforcement after learning of possible misconduct and that Tichon is no longer employed there. It remains unknown whether any toxicology, forensic downloads or third-party witness statements will be introduced at the preliminary hearing stage; detectives said additional interviews are underway.
Public records show Tichon had worked at the campus for several years before the investigation. The case drew attention in West Los Angeles, where several private schools operate near Pico and Beverly boulevards and where families frequently rely on counselors for academic guidance and mental health referrals. In late August 2024, police publicly announced the arrest while seeking additional victims or witnesses. By Sept. 20, the District Attorney’s Office announced formal charges. The reporting prompted community messages from the school stating that counselors were available for students who had questions and that leaders were cooperating with the investigation.
Court filings indicate a preliminary hearing was initially set for Nov. 1, 2024, to determine whether sufficient evidence existed to move the case toward trial. As of Jan. 23, 2026, officials have not publicly reported a verdict. Prosecutors said the criminal matter remains open and that they will release updates consistent with court schedules and evidentiary rulings. Separate civil complaints filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court name the school as a defendant and allege negligence; those cases are proceeding on their own timelines and are unrelated to any eventual criminal sentencing.
Parents near the campus described a mix of anger and worry as news spread in 2024. One father said the allegations “shook our trust in the adults we count on.” A recent graduate said classmates were “confused and upset” when messages about the case circulated. Police urged anyone with relevant information to contact investigators, while school leaders said they had notified law enforcement promptly and removed the employee from her role. Former students who knew the counselor in passing described her as visible at school events but not widely known outside assigned caseloads.
The criminal case remains pending in Los Angeles Superior Court with no announced trial date. Prosecutors and detectives said they anticipate further scheduling updates in the coming weeks, including any rulings on evidence. Civil filings remain in early proceedings. Authorities said they will provide new information as court records are updated.
Author note: Last updated January 23, 2026.