A Pioneer Valley High School teacher could be sentenced to more than 18 years in prison following his conviction today on charges he molested a 16-year-old two years ago when the boy was in his algebra class.

Michael Cardoza, 59, of Orcutt was found guilty on all seven counts he was charged with, including oral copulation with a minor both with and without force or duress. The verdicts were returned this afternoon by a Santa Barbara County Superior Court jury in Santa Maria.

In addition to the oral-sex counts, Cardoza was convicted of documenting a sex act of a minor, molesting or annoying a child and development or duplication of an image of a child engaged in sexual conduct.

The jury reached the verdict several hours after deliberations began this morning.

Cardoza, who had been free on bail, was taken into custody after the verdicts were announced.

Cardoza, who is on unpaid leave from the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, previously taught at Santa Maria High School and in Visalia.

He is set to return to court on July 31 for sentencing. He could receive a maximum term of 18 years and eight months in state prison, said Deputy District Attorney Stephen Foley.

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Cardoza took the stand in his own defense during his trial, and denied having sex with the teen. He admitted that he took sexually explicit photos of the student, but said that he believed the boy was 18 at the time.

Jeff Hearn, superintendent for the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, said today that now that Cardoza has been convicted, he would be separated from the district. The district would consult with the state to determine how to go about terminating his status as a full-time employee.