Vintage High teacher arrested | Napa Valley Register

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Vintage High teacher arrested

Monday, November 17, 2008

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By MARSHA DORGAN
Register Staff Writer

A Vintage High School math teacher has been arrested in Sonoma County and charged with child molestation.

Josefat (Joe) Estrada, 35 was arrested this weekend in Napa on 18 separate counts involving lewd acts with a child under 18.

He is being held in the Sonoma County jail on $250,000 bail. Estrada and the boy believed to be his victim know one another, police said.

Estrada has been a teacher at Vintage since 2005, according to Vintage High School Principal Eric Schneider.

“I received a phone call on Sunday about Joe’s arrest. This is a very sad and devastating day for Vintage,” Schneider said Monday morning.

Schneider said he did not yet know the status of Estrada’s teaching position with the school. “That is handled through our human resources department,” he said.

Schneider stressed that Estrada’s arrest did not involve any Vintage students.

“I am sure the first concern parents who are hearing about this is ‘does it involve any of our students?’” Schneider said. “I want to make it very clear that this tragic incident does not involve any one at our high school.”

Estrada is originally from Tempe, Ariz., Schneider said.

“He taught in Tempe, and then in New York City, where he was before he came to Napa,” Schneider said. “This is just devastating for us. He had a huge impact on the school. In addition to his math teaching assignment, he was also involved in the freshman transition program. This is a significant loss for the school.”

Estrada is scheduled to be arraigned in Sonoma County Superior Court Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misspelled Mr. Estrada's first name

30 comment(s)

yvonne wrote on Nov 17, 2008 1:02 PM:

" I really, really hope this isn't true; that he is found to be innocent. Mr. Estrada is my son's math teacher, and for the first time ever, in 9th grade, my son has an A in math. He has come home and told me what a great teacher he is, and how for the first time ever he 'gets it'. I am so upset, as I know my son is.

I don't know the circumstances, but I sincerely hope that this proves to be false, but knowing how these things go I'm afraid that even if he is cleared his reputation will be ruined and we will lose a great teacher.

Of course if it is true I sincerely hope the young man involved is ok, and applaud him for coming forward, that must be the hardest thing he could ever do. "

JustAnotherManicMonday wrote on Nov 17, 2008 1:16 PM:

" Eww, eww, eww... maybe the background checks for TEACHERS should also include surveillance, and an investigator to go to the old schools and find out why they were REALLY let go. This is NOT acceptable!!! "

angrytoo wrote on Nov 17, 2008 1:42 PM:

" How sick!! And this guy was around kids all day. I'm not a parent but having nieces and nephews in high school, this turns my stomach. I'm curious to see how old the boy is.........not that it matters it will only turn my stomach more. "

koni wrote on Nov 17, 2008 2:04 PM:

" Just because someone said he did something doesnt mean he did it . You need to wait and see what the courts have as well.
There are lots of people in this world that make statements that are false .
NOW, when the courts find him guilty throw the book at him .
NUSD needs to be checking out there teachers better , there have been way to many in this small town . DO YOUR BACKGROUND CHECKS !!! "

FreeRaymo01 wrote on Nov 17, 2008 2:17 PM:

" this is weird i was one of his students and he never came at me or anyone of are peers like that he also dated my aunt and never came like that i think he is a good person and too hard to belive "

commenter wrote on Nov 17, 2008 2:36 PM:

" Background checks are not going to catch everything - it still takes human interaction (checking references), common sense, etc. Even then, things are not always public.

Then there is the tenure issue where people can have issues and simply get shuffled from place to place... "

baraki wrote on Nov 17, 2008 2:39 PM:

" angry -- there's a different code for molestation on a child under 14... So based on this article I'd guess the child is between 14 and 18. "

kdbk wrote on Nov 17, 2008 2:50 PM:

" Definitely "innocent until proven guilty" should apply. But I wonder to what extent the investigation will involve examining why a H.S. math teacher goes from Tempe, AZ, to NYC and then to Napa,CA. I'm sure there could be reasons, but they'd be pretty interesting reasons for sure. But not for us to judge right now.

But what we might want to "judge" is just how secretive the process is for checking references for public school teachers. The teachers union has made it very, very difficult to get important background information about teacher applicants from their previous schools. Very strange indeed. But hey, the unions only have the kids' best interests at heart, right? "

Futility Exercised wrote on Nov 17, 2008 3:28 PM:

" This is something that can't be prevented through the use of background checks. Pedophile behavior is classified as a psychological disorder. It's not an excuse or justification, but it should be noted that background checks do not come back with brain scans revealing someone's desire to abuse children.

As for anyone who thinks he must be innocent because he is "such a nice guy," you would do yourself a service by not being so naive.

Of course, this being the Napa Valley Register, they probably got the name, age, sex, location, and high school where he teaches wrong.

Note: This is my second attempt at posting. My first post wasn't accepted because I used a word that starts with "mol" and ends with "est". Funny, because I'm pretty confident that a version of that word was used in this article (look at the last word of the first paragraph). "

elb wrote on Nov 17, 2008 4:16 PM:

" eighteen counts is a rather significant number. The police must have quite a bit of evidence against this man.

As for the students at Vintage, of course it is possible that nothing happened to any of them, but as is often the case, once charges are brought against someone like this, others tend to emerge from the woodworks. I really hope that doesn't happen.

Further, I do, of course hope that it is discovered that this is all a horrific misunderstanding, but eighteen counts... I don't know. "

misfit wrote on Nov 17, 2008 4:42 PM:

" Isn't it becoming obvious that this is becoming way too prevalent these days. So many, otherwise respectable men, seem to have this sickness. Clearly, that is what it must be. To hold responsible positions and to still have this dark cloud over them is astonishing. Why are so many men involved in this kind of thing? What is going on? Is it natural...is that why? What about the ones who haven't been caught yet? How do we ever know. We can't go around being suspicious of everyone but, something has got to be done to address this problem. It is out of control! "

opiniagirl wrote on Nov 17, 2008 4:45 PM:

" You just never know.... "

sammy wrote on Nov 17, 2008 4:56 PM:

" Heck, all I wrote was...... Lovely, just lovely and it didn't go through. sniff sniff

I hope the child involved in this case is well on his/her way to healing. "

realnewnapa wrote on Nov 17, 2008 4:58 PM:

" good job for putting the complete description up NVR!

The santa rosa pressdemo
has the complete charges on their page,but it's very graphic and very disturbing "

triumph110 wrote on Nov 17, 2008 5:32 PM:

" This is happening all over the country. Go to www.schoolteachernews.com and click on the Scandal page. They have documented over 410 of these types of incidents since just the beginning of 2008. "

Chente wrote on Nov 17, 2008 5:40 PM:

" I am a current student at Vintage High School and I have talked to Mr. Estrada before this arrest and I would have never guessed that he would be doing this stuff I don't believe it. I have to say not guilty in my opinion. He was a great Math Teacher and I don't believe if he is found either way that things are going to be the same but I just hope an innocent man doesn't get locked up if he is really innocent. After all they are innocent until proven guilty. "

wipemedown wrote on Nov 17, 2008 5:56 PM:

" Roving Molester Patrols are in Obvious need. "

VCGraduate wrote on Nov 17, 2008 6:23 PM:

" My daughter had Mr. Estrada as well, and she is devastated and only hopes this is not true. We should all think positive,and remember how it is possible to have false accusations against one. She said he was not only the kindest teacher but she learned more from him then most. we will keep a positive attitude during this unfortunate situation. People please try to not jump to judging it is to easy. "

#1bballfan wrote on Nov 17, 2008 6:25 PM:

" Come on!!!! should we just Linch him?
What happen to inocent until proven guilty?
I SURE HOPE THAT YOU ARE NOT EVER WRONGLY ACCUSED OF A CRIME!
I hear that he is a great teacher and good friend to many student.
Let the courts do thier jobs. "

Dwayne wrote on Nov 17, 2008 6:39 PM:

" How can Schneider know that no students were involved...??? The arrest is just the beginning of the investigation...

Giving lip service to denial always floors me.... A more honest statement would have been, "I don't know"...... "

TINKERBELL2112 wrote on Nov 17, 2008 6:56 PM:

" Questions- they don't say where this child is from- could this be something that happened in another STATE? And he is just now being arrested for it?

I do also find it hard to believe that this teacher would do such a thing. I have heard nothing but great things from students about him. But I can also say it was hard to believe another Napa Teacher shot her boyfriend. Teachers can do bad things. I just hope it's not true in this case . I am very sorry if Mr Estrada is being wrongly accused. And If it is true I am very sorry for the child it has happened too. Either way it's not good and very sad to hear! "

yamamama wrote on Nov 17, 2008 7:01 PM:

" From the SR Press Democrat: 'Estrada was arrested at his Napa home and booked at Sonoma County Jail on eight counts of oral copulation of a minor, one count of oral copulation of a minor unconscious of the act, and one count of lewd act on a child. He was being held on $235,000 bail and was expected in court Tuesday.' "

NapaInformed wrote on Nov 17, 2008 7:07 PM:

" As a VHS student I would strongly advise those of you commenting that know nothing of the situation to please refrain from commenting at all. On behalf of the students in the room with me at this moment (many of which are former students of the teacher in question) we please request that those of you who are not involved in the case stop accusing or questioning this teacher. All of us who are in the room as I write this comment are extremely shocked to hear of this incident and we hope that it is not true. This teacher was helpful to many students as well as myself, and because of this I excelled in my own math class and I am truly grateful. He is a good person, a friend to many, and an excellent teacher. Please stop posting speculations and let the authorities do their job. Thank you from the concerned VHS students. "

injoy wrote on Nov 17, 2008 7:19 PM:

" PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, remember, in this country, this man is innocent until proven guilty... "

sammy wrote on Nov 17, 2008 7:22 PM:

" Tinkerbell, the victim is from Sonoma, Read the press democrat. it's very unsettling to say the least. "

VHSVP wrote on Nov 17, 2008 7:56 PM:

" This is a tragic incident that has definately come out of left field for many. As a student at Vintage, I have been lucky to work with Mr. Estrada throughout the years. He is absolutely an asset to our school, and has inspired me to always do my best. For the simple fact that none of this information is completely confirmed, I feel it is best that all people refrain from making accusations on this wonderful man. To those that have especially no education in this incident, I ask that you mind your own business and let the rest of us hope for the best. There has been enough negative energy directed towards people in our community in the recent past, and it needs to stop here. I thank those of you that support Mr. Estrada in this tragic occurence. "

NapaInformed wrote on Nov 17, 2008 8:47 PM:

" Also, will it be noted that anyone who has ever had the pleasure to know Mr. Estrada, work with him, or be his student has nothing but good things to say about him.

We've all read the story on various sites. Please stop trying to be a vigilante and display the accusions from these sites as innocent until proven guilty reigns supreme in this country.

As VHSVP said, "[Mr. Estrada] is absolutely an asset to our school." "

amelia wrote on Nov 17, 2008 10:12 PM:

" What's interesting to me is that there are people on here defending this guy and many people defended the wrestling coach who finally admitted his acts and the teacher who shot her abusive boyfriend while he slept. They are not different than this case. Each of those cases didn't turn out well for those teachers so I would imagine that the people who are defending Mr. Estrada think about that.
Luckily for me, I do not any of the mentioned people so I have no judgement against or for them. Just saying that you don't always know someone. "

wonkagirl wrote on Nov 20, 2008 12:03 PM:

" What decade do we live in? I'm so tired of things like this happening and "the victim" waiting years to finally come out and say something. Like I've told my kids, "If someone says, "I'll kill your parents", or "Your parents won't believe you"., to tell the molestor, "Okay" and after the incident run and scream to an adult and tell.
Don't start throwing comments at me for my opinion, but give me a break. Just tell on the damn person who's touching you and get them introuble. Regardless of the family or friend connection, TELL ON THEM! We live in a society that wants to hide everything, because of fear of what the community, our friends and family might "think" of us. Well, if this teacher did it, it's not a something to be shrugged off and say, "People make mistakes" Molesting is not a mistake it's a crime of choice.
I hope that there's evidence of the incidents and that these accusations are not false ones. I know what it's like to have a family ruined by fall accusations. "

Love-Yew wrote on Nov 20, 2008 8:14 PM:

" iTs FUnnY H0w aLL yew PeOPlE juSt ASSuMe hEs guiLty RigHt aWaY..QuiT AsSuMing he Is tiLL heS d0ne wiTH his TriAL.. "

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