Crime & Safety
Los Gatos Teacher, Coach Accused In Sexual Assault Of Student: Police
Police announced two unrelated arrests of male teachers following reports of sexual assault and other inappropriate contact.
LOS GATOS, CA — A Los Gatos teacher and coach is accused of rape and sexual assault after police allege he assaulted a student in San Jose in the early 2000s.
Detectives on Monday announced two unrelated investigations where male teachers are accused of sexually assaulting or having inappropriate contact with underage female students at San Jose schools.
In the first case, police said the victim contacted them earlier this month to report a sexual assault that happened between 2002 and 2003. Detectives with the department's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force began an investigation and identified the suspect as Shawn Thomas, 56, of Los Gatos.
Police allege Thomas was working as a teacher at Leigh High School, where the victim was a student, both when the assault happened and at the time of his arrest. He also worked as a football and track and field coach at Los Gatos High School, police said.
The task force arrested Thomas on Friday in San Jose, and he was booked into the Main Jail on suspicion of rape and sexual assault of a minor.
In the other case, police said a female student at the ACE Empower Academy contacted them in December to report a teacher who had sent her "inappropriate electronic and handwritten messages." Investigators identified the suspect as Giovanny LaTorre, 28, of San Jose, and arrested him last week. He was booked into the Main Jail on suspicion of "annoying or molesting a minor."
Police asked anyone with information on the cases or similar incidents to contact the task force at 408-273-2959.
Also See:Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
