Para-Educator Charged With Child Porn Possession: San Jose Police

CUPERTINO, CA — A para-educator at a San Jose high school is charged with possessing child sex abuse material, according to police.

San Jose police on Monday announced the arrest of 38-year-old Sherman Cater III of Cupertino.

The department’s Internet Crimes Against Children/Child Exploitation Detail Task Force conducted an investigation between November 2024 and January 2025, police said.

On Jan. 27, detectives identified Cater as the primary suspect in the investigation, according to police, who said Cater worked at a high school in the 3500 block of Zanker Road in San Jose. Kathleen MacDonald High School is located in the 3500 block of Zanker Road. The school district was notified of the investigation at the time of Cater’s arrest and has cooperated with authorities, police said.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for Cater’s home in late January and seized devices containing child sex abuse material, according to police, who noted Cater was seen downloading and distributing the material from his residence.

Cater was arrested and booked into Santa Clara County jail, police said.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact police at 408-277-4102 or 4269@sanjoseca.gov, according to authorities. People can submit tips anonymously by using the P3TIPS app, calling 408-947-7867 or visiting www.siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org, police said, adding tipsters with information leading to an arrest are eligible for a cash reward.