South Bay Teacher Arrested On Child Molestation Charges

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — A South Bay school teacher was arrested Wednesday on child molestation charges, the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Stephen Eugene Thai, 33, was arrested on suspicion of committing lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14 (two counts), contacting a minor to commit a sex crime, and annoying and molesting a child under the age of 18, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Thai was booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail and is being held on a no-bail warrant, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The news release did not indicate at which school Thai worked.

Thai was arrested in connection with sexual assault allegations that occurred between 2016 and 2017, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Thai is accused of sexually assaulting two students during after-school art program he taught at a San José elementary school, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Thai in 2020 located the two juvenile victims through social media and attempted to communicate with them, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Office Sexual Assault Investigations Unit launched an investigation in September after allegations surfaced.

Detectives believe there may be additional victims.

Anyone who knows of juveniles who had any inappropriate contact with Thai is asked to contact the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office at (408) 808- 4500.

Detectives can also be reached at the Sheriff’s Office Investigative Services anonymous tip line at (408) 808-4431 or at SO.website@shf.sccgov.org.