SAN JOSE — A longtime Leigh High School teacher has been arrested and jailed after a former student came forward to authorities to accuse him of raping her in the early 2000s, according to the San Jose Police Department.
Shawn Renee Thomas, 56, of Los Gatos, was arrested and booked Friday into the Elmwood men’s jail in Milpitas. He was initially held on $525,000 bail, with an arraignment scheduled Monday, records show.
The Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office has charged him with one count of rape, one count of sexual penetration of a minor, and five counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a minor.
Investigators were called March 8 to the Campbell Union High School District office for what police called “a delayed report of sexual assault of a minor.” Police stated that multiple assaults occurred between 2002 and 2003.
Detectives from SJPD’s Internet Crimes Against Children task force and Child Exploitation Detail launched an investigation that produced allegations that Thomas raped and sexually assaulted the reported victim when she was a student and he was a teacher at Leigh High School.
Thomas, a Leigh alum, is listed as a physical education and social science teacher on the school’s website; an internet search indicates that his biographical information was recently deleted from his teacher page. He is also an assistant football coach and track coach at Los Gatos High School, according to police and online records.
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In a letter to the “Leigh Community,” Campbell Union High School District Superintendent Robert Bravo wrote that the district “is actively cooperating with the investigation” and that Thomas “has been placed on administrative leave and directed not to have student or staff contact of any kind.”
“The safety and well-being of our students are of paramount importance to us, and any form of misconduct is taken extremely seriously,” the letter reads. “While we understand that this news may be concerning, we want to assure you that we are committed to maintaining a safe and nurturing environment for all our students.”
Bravo declined further comment on Thomas’ arrest, on account of it being “an ongoing legal and personnel matter. However, please be assured that we have taken all necessary steps to ensure that the situation is being addressed appropriately and in accordance with the law.”
Anyone with information for investigators can contact Detective Camarillo at [email protected] or 408-273-2959. Tips can be left with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-7867 or at siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org.
