FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – A Fresno High School band instructor was arrested on Friday, accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old student.
Police Chief Jerry Dyer and Fresno Unified Superintendent Bob Nelson held a press conference on Friday afternoon at District Headquarters.
Chief Dyer said a woman called police on Thursday night to say her son was molested by his band teacher.
The student told police he had three encounters with the band instructor while at Fresno High.
“All three of the encounters occurred during school hours, and specifically occurred in the teacher’s office on campus,” said Chief Dyer.
[Photo: Fresno PD]Chief Dyer said they arrested 38 year-old John Henry Veloz Jr. at 9:15 a.m. on Friday morning.
Veloz Jr. has been booked into the Fresno County Jail on five counts of sexual assault with a minor.
Chief Dyer says police are looking at campus video to see if anything was recorded, and they are also asking Fresno High parents to ask their children about possible incidents and come forward if there are any other victims.
Chief Dyer said he suspects there may be more students who were affected.
Superintendent Nelson said the band instructor had been there since the beginning of this school year.
Superintendent Nelson said the Fresno Unified School District screens and fingerprints all employees.
The District allows employees to have due process, said Superintendent Nelson, but he said “allegations of this nature are incredibly serious, they are extremely upsetting, and do not reflect the high professional standards the district expects of its staff.”
Fresno Unified has placed Veloz Jr. on administrative leave while the investigation is underway.
Click to listen to the report by Liz Kern:
