81-Year-Old Former Teacher Suspected of Molesting Girls

A former Chaffey Joint Union High School District teacher has been arrested on suspicion that he molested two young girls while they visited his Rancho Cucamonga home several years ago.

Paul Chapman, 81, was arrested on Jan. 10 and remained in custody at West Valley Detention Center as of Tuesday, according to Sheriff’s records. He could face charges of Lewd Acts with a Child, Continuous Sexual Abuse of a Child and Oral Copulation of a Child, sheriff’s officials said.

Sheriff investigators are protecting the victims and few details were immediately released. They were described only as members of the same family. During interviews the youngsters told investigators that Chapman sexually abused them several times, officials said.

The girls were reportedly between the ages of 7 and 10 at the time of the alleged incidents and investigators said they believe the abuse occurred at various times between 2007 and 2011.

Chapman was a teacher for the Chaffey Joint Union High School District between 1960 and 1997, sheriff’s officials said.

Investigators ask anyone with information or evidence of any sexual abuse involving Chapman to call Detective Gary Esmond at the Rancho Cucamonga Police Station, (909) 477-2800.