2 SCV suspects accused of felonies return to court

Two suspects from Santa Clarita Valley-related crimes appeared in court Wednesday, both receiving future dates to return once again for further proceedings.

David Cornish

A Saugus High School substitute math teacher charged with 18 counts in connection with the alleged sexual abuse of a student returned to court Wednesday for a prelimanary setting.

David Cornish, 29, stands accused of “oral copulation with a minor, lewd acts with a child, penetration with a foreign object and two counts dealing with sexually inappropriate messages over the internet,” according to Sgt. Brian Hudson of the Sheriff’s Department’s Special

Victims Unit.

The victim’s mother became aware of the alleged abuse against her daughter and then contacted the authorities, investigators said.

Cornish could face years in prison if convicted of the charges that he allegedly began texting a student, with whom he then engaged in a sexually abusive relationship, while he was a substitute teacher on contract for the William S. Hart Union High School District. He has since been suspended by the district.

He’s due back in court March 22 for another preliminary setting. A prelim setting is a hearing date to schedule a preliminary hearing — when the evidence is presented to the judge who decides whether the trial will move ahead. Cornish pleaded not guilty at his preliminary arraignment.

A man accused of attacking a good Samaritan at a Newhall Metrolink Station last year returned to court on Wednesday.

Thomas Hearn, 23, a reportedly homeless man who lives in Santa Clarita, was accused last year of assault in connection with an alleged attack on a man who was reportedly trying to break up an apparent fight between Hearn and a woman who was with him at the Metrolink station.

The woman involved then filed a report with SCV Sheriff’s Station officials the following day regarding the October incident. Hearn turned himself in to authorities soon after Oct. 5.

The good Samaritan suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Hearn is set to return to court March 3 for a prelim setting.