Alleged Sexual Abuse Case at Adelante Dual Language Academy

Alleged sexual abuse by a 43-year-old teacher at the Adelante Dual Language Academy in San Jose. The teacher has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting at least 10 students, according to police. The teacher, Israel Santiago of Morgan Hill, faces multiple counts of sexual assault and annoying or molesting a child under age 12. The investigation began after several students reported that the teacher touched them inappropriately. The alleged assaults occurred in the school’s music and band room, and authorities believe there may be more victims.

Background of The Alleged Sexual Abuse

According to police, Santiago should have been on the radar of the Alum Rock School District since a similar allegation was made against him in 2014 at another school within the district. However, no charges were filed, and Santiago was subsequently moved to Adelante Academy under a prior superintendent. Police have stated that Santiago’s prior accusation should have been taken into consideration and that “this teacher was moved to this school. Now we have 10 more victims.”

Reporting Protocol for Sexual Abuse

The San Jose Police Department has emphasized the importance of reporting such incidents to law enforcement as soon as they are made aware of them. According to police, the school first notified child services after the allegations began to come in, but that agency didn’t call the police until a couple of weeks later. The department stated that most schools are “following protocol” but that detectives should be notified as soon as possible in order to preserve evidence and interview potential victims as soon as possible.

School District and Administration Responses

The school district and the school administration have also come under scrutiny for their handling of the alleged sexual abuse case. Parents and community members have expressed frustration and anger that Santiago was allowed to continue teaching despite the previous allegations against him. The school district has stated that they are cooperating fully with the police investigation and conducting their internal investigation to determine how Santiago was able to continue teaching despite the previous allegations. They have also said that they will be reviewing their policies and procedures to ensure that something like this doesn’t happen again. The case has also raised concerns about California’s lack of background checks and teacher oversight.

Impact on Victims and Families

The victims and their families are also dealing with the aftermath of the alleged abuse. Many of the students are struggling with trauma and fear, and some have been receiving counseling to help them cope with what happened. The school district has stated that they are providing support and resources to the victims and their families and will work closely with law enforcement to ensure justice is served.

Speak to a California Childhood Sexual Abuse Attorney

If you or someone you know has been affected by this case or any other case of child sexual abuse, don’t hesitate to contact our California child sex abuse law firm at Beck Law P.C., for help. There may be legal action that you can take to pursue justice. We are here to support you and ensure that your rights are protected.