A Ukiah High School teacher was arrested Monday for alleged inappropriate contact online with a 17-year-old, the Ukiah Police Department reported.
According to the UPD, officers were informed last month by a concerned parent that a Ukiah High teacher identified as Matthew P. LaFever, 37, of Hopland, who teaches journalism courses, “had made an inappropriate sexual comment towards her daughter.”
While investigating that claim, the UPD reports learning that “a different UHS student had information regarding LaFever contacting minors on social media.” When interviewed by the UPD, the 17-year-old female reported that “she had conversed with LaFever on social media, informed him that she was a minor, and Lafever had persisted to make sexually suggestive comments about her and repeatedly asked her to send him inappropriate photographs.” LaFever also allegedly “sent the minor scantily clad and inappropriate photographs of himself,” the UPD reports.
After obtaining a search warrant for the teacher’s cell phone, computers, and residence, the UPD reports that detectives contacted him at Ukiah High School and “seized his cell phone and multiple laptops.” At that time, LaFever reportedly declined to provide a statement.
When officers “forensically downloaded” the suspect’s electronic devices, they report being able to confirm that the interactions described by the 17-year-old had occurred, and “she had clearly informed LaFever that she was a minor.”
The UPD also notes finding “additional evidence that LaFever was reaching out to numerous minors throughout Sonoma and Mendocino Counties, however those victims have not been identified at this time due to the anonymity of social media.”
After obtaining an arrest warrant, the UPD reports that officers arrested LaFever at his home around 7 a.m. Nov. 3, and he was later booked into Mendocino County Jail on suspicion of “knowingly annoying and or molesting a minor,” and held under $10,000 bail.
The UPD requests that any minors who may have had contact with LaFever online, whom they report “used numerous variations of the screen name ‘Johhnyender’ across multiple social media platforms,” to please contact them. The non-emergency line for the UPD is 707-462-6262.
On Monday, the Ukiah Unified School District sent a notice to parents and guardians reporting that “a staff member at Ukiah High School was arrested (Nov. 3) following allegations of inappropriate electronic communications with a high school student.”
UUSD officials reported that “on Oct. 16, when law enforcement first informed us of the situation, we immediately placed the employee on administrative leave, pending the investigation. The staff member remains off campus, and will not return to the classroom while investigations continue.”
In a press release, UUSD Superintendent Deb Kubin was quoted as saying, “The safety and well-being of our students are our highest priorities. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement and conducting our own internal investigation. We will continue to communicate with families as appropriate while respecting the privacy rights of all involved.”
The release also noted that “all district employees undergo background checks that continuously monitor for new information throughout employment. Staff also complete annual training on maintaining professional boundaries and are mandated reporters of any suspected abuse or misconduct. School counselors will be available on campus to provide support for any student who wishes to speak with someone or needs assistance processing this information.”
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