Vintage teacher arraigned on 10 sex charges

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Wednesday, November 19, 2008

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By MARSHA DORGAN
Register Staff Writer

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The Vintage High School teacher accused of child molestation was arraigned in Sonoma County court on Tuesday.

Josefat (Joe) Estrada, 35, was arrested last weekend at his Napa home in the 3200 block of Soscol Avenue. At his arraignment, he was charged with 10 counts of oral copulation with a minor and lewd acts.

Estrada, a Vintage math teacher, was a close friend of the teen and his family, according to the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department.

The boy, now 18, who is the only victim, is not a Vintage student. “This unfortunate incident does not involve any students at our school,” said Vintage Principal Eric Schneider.

Police said incidents started when the boy was 14 and continued for about two years. The boy and Estrada were living in Sonoma County at the time.

Estrada started teaching at Vintage in 2005.

“He is on unpaid administrative leave,” said Napa Valley Unified School District Assistant Superintendent Sharyn Lindsey.

That will be his status with the school district while the criminal case proceeds, Lindsey said. “We have also notified the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.”

Lindsey said prior to Estrada being hired at Vintage he was fingerprinted by the commission and NVUSD.

“We found nothing to question his background,” she said.

Lindsey said teachers familiar with Estrada’s students will take over his teaching duties. “We also have a substitute teacher available.”

Estrada is being held in the Sonoma County jail on $235,000 bail.

He is scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 24 to enter a plea and request a bail-reduction hearing.

47 comment(s)

skippert wrote on Nov 18, 2008 4:09 PM:

" Some people are just sick and wrong. But to have them in our schools as the people setting examples for our kids. Wow. This is just crazy. "

wipemedown wrote on Nov 18, 2008 5:13 PM:

" God Help us;

Wolves in sheeps clothing are caring for our children.

I hope there are enhancers for this based on his position as a teacher. "

kevin wrote on Nov 18, 2008 5:54 PM:

" Amazing that they are so sure there were no other victims.

Probably based on the perps testimony... "

barefoot wrote on Nov 18, 2008 6:43 PM:

" A sad day for Vintage? Surely the principal could have come up with something better to say. How could removing an accused sex offender from a school be sad? (see other article) What is sad is the wolf in sheep's clothing scenario. It's rampant. Worst of the worst are those involved in the Church. "

roxy wrote on Nov 18, 2008 9:04 PM:

" HE WAS A GREAT A TEACHER...EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES... "

pernodboi wrote on Nov 18, 2008 9:39 PM:

" If these charges are true - bravo to the young man who had the courage to come forward. He and others like him are improving this situation for the generations that fallow.

I personally believe sexual abuse of minors is decreasing. As the media gets more local (thanks Dan) and we are able to discuss these issues in public, the perceived shame of the victims is diminishing. More people will come forward when these things happen and (hopefully) grown ups will stop before they commit these acts of rape, the whole public shame and fear of being outed (not to mention jail).

Something about this story I would like to know - Who contacted the school admin? The police, the court, the acused? There may be a need for better communication between the schools and law enforcement.

Either way - the school seems to of acted very fast and decisively once notified. "

eyeamme wrote on Nov 18, 2008 10:25 PM:

" barefoot, I think they mean it was a sad day because they found out a guy they all thought was really great has made a really horrible decision in his life. I know people feel let down. I doubt the principle was saying it was sad they removed an accused sex offender from the school.

Some people make mistakes, and kudos to the individual that came forward; that takes an amount of courage very few know. "

antipc wrote on Nov 19, 2008 5:55 AM:

" Being a child molester is NOT making a mistake. It's an incurable disease & a premeditated crime against innocence. Just because he was well liked & a teacher doesn't mean he should get a free pass if proven guilty. "

tinkerbell2112 wrote on Nov 19, 2008 6:44 AM:

" Roxy and eyeamme - your right when you say people make mistakes - but there is a big difference in a mistake and abuse of a child!
A 30 year old man having sex with a 14 year old boy is no mistake!! That is abuse. That kind of "what you call " MISTAKE should never be made.

pernodboi- I agree with everything you are saying - but I feel that someone who abuses someone for 2years has more victims out there and I hope if there is they come forward too. "

UncleStuy wrote on Nov 19, 2008 6:54 AM:

" Pedophilia is NOT a one time MISTAKE. This happened for 2 years. Pedophilies usually have more than one victim. Regardless of his teaching abilities, there is no excuse for his behavior. He was/is in a position of trust. "

winghunter wrote on Nov 19, 2008 8:07 AM:

" Roxy said " HE WAS A GREAT A TEACHER...EVERYONE MAKES MISTAKES... "

Got news for ya... A 2 year ordeal with a 14 year old boy is more than a mistake!!!! "

Winewoman wrote on Nov 19, 2008 8:09 AM:

" Uh, sexually abusing a minor FOR 2 YEARS doesn't fall under "people make mistakes". That would be lake getting into a car accident every day for 2 years and claiming it was and "accident" every time. Come on! "

mafi wrote on Nov 19, 2008 8:19 AM:

" no worries, he'll get out in 6mo's, right?! "

noseyrosie wrote on Nov 19, 2008 8:53 AM:

" Roxy, this mistake though is unforgivable! The young man that was his "VICTIM" is scarred FOREVER!!! Put yourself in his shoes, and lets see if you call it a mistake. "

gemini wrote on Nov 19, 2008 9:42 AM:

" roxy-everyone makes mistakes? are you kidding? the charges against this teacher are not for a mistake he made. the victim was 14 years old. if he is guilty he is a pedophile. "

nvlady wrote on Nov 19, 2008 10:15 AM:

" Sadly, many child predators choose professions that put them in contact with children, but also in positions of trust, example: teachers, doctors... "

elb wrote on Nov 19, 2008 10:39 AM:

" One aspect I hadn't really thought about until I saw so many people jumping to the defense of this teacher is that it must feel like you are being abused all over again when outsiders who know nothing really with regards to the case refuse to acknowledge that you could have ever been abused in the first place.

Innocent until proven guilty does not automatically invalidate the fact that something may have actually happened to this fourteen year old (Now eighteen year old) boy. It only means that it is going to take time for the truth to be revealed.

If you are a victim of something like this, it must take a lot of courage to read and or hear people automatically defending and protecting, justifying and even denying that your abuser could have ever done such a thing to you.

I suppose that's just one more reason why the rest of us should wait to say much of anything until the process has time to sort things out.

It's not fair to say the man did it and it's not fair to say to the fourteen year old that nothing happened to him. "

yvonne wrote on Nov 19, 2008 11:49 AM:

" Please Please Please remember - He has not been convicted of a crime, he has only been charged. He is suppose to be considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

I don't know this man personally, I've only met him once. I am impressed with his teaching, I've said this already, but my son is getting an A in his math class for the first time ever. He gets it, thanks to Mr. Estrada's teaching.

It is not unheard of for someone who has been abused to try and protect the person who has abused them by blaming someone else. It is also possible, not legal of course but possible, that the 14 year old made a pass at the older man. We expect our teachers to be above reproach, and not respond to a situation like that, but we are all human.

Believe me, I don't condone this type of action. I have family members who were abused by another family member and it was and still is a horrible situation that even after many years affects the lives of the children (now adults) and those of us who love them. "

angrytoo wrote on Nov 19, 2008 12:06 PM:

" Roxy - Michael Jackson was a great singer................that still doesn't make it right! "

funnyme wrote on Nov 19, 2008 12:23 PM:

" Sexually abuse a child is a HIDEOUS crime and should be punished to the extent of the law (my preference would be "death penalty").

Having said that, what if the 14 year old boy was struggling with his own sexuality and it took this pedophile to "guide" him through it for two years, and two years later the then boy comes forward because he realizes what happened to him was awfully wrong.
Is it possible? "

Paisano wrote on Nov 19, 2008 12:27 PM:

" If found guilty, lets see if Mr. Estrada receives the same jail sentence that the St. Helena wrestling coach received. "

reason-ator wrote on Nov 19, 2008 12:46 PM:

" Damn, I got a bad grade once and I was mad at my teacher.

I should have accused him of molesting me.

I wish I'd known it was an option at the time. I could have ruined his reputation before he was even acquitted of the crime he didn't commit. "

verum wrote on Nov 19, 2008 1:33 PM:

" If the now eighteen year-old commited a serious crime at the age of the allegations, that "child" would most probably be charged as an "adult". There is very little innocence lost in todays society. Throw in the word sex, and people come out of the woodwork. "

wrongsideofthetrax wrote on Nov 19, 2008 1:57 PM:

" i don't think roxy was ever abused before turning 18... if s/he had been, s/he would never be able to dismiss it with "everyone makes mistakes" - because sexual abuse is soul murder, and it's even worse if the victim is a child.

SICK "

mandycaly wrote on Nov 19, 2008 2:36 PM:

" I am a survivor of sexual abuse,by family members! On of them being a brother who was 10 years older then myself!
People who met him,talked to him,
even knew him thought he was the
nicest guy! He raped me and told
me he would kill me if I ever told a
soul! The rape lasted for years!
(He was a really sick sick man)

Nice guys rape children and women!

I also agree with UncleStuy,there could be more then one victim! I know that one of my rapist raped more then me and my brothers! I also wonder how a child who may not always get an
A got an A in a class were a teacher has been charged with 10 sex charges(?)

I also feel that this is not happening less,it is just not talked about as much as it used to be! Don't be fooled!
It not only takes raw courage to speak up,it takes raw courage to charge one with rape!
After all "He is such a nice guy" "

nelly wrote on Nov 19, 2008 2:58 PM:

" I Personally Didn't Have Him As A Teacher But I've Heard Great Things About This Man. But Then I Hear This About HIM!

No One Is Taking Into Consideration That Maybe The Boy Wanted To Do It To, Has Anyone Questioned Themselves About That For Just A Second. Maybe The Boy Was/Is Gay But Now The Someone In The Family Found Out About It And He Is Denying It Because He Is Scared For People To Find Out His Sexuality. So Maybe He Is Saying He Was Forced And Mr. Estrada Can Lie Because They Swear Him In, In Court So Obviously He Is Admitting It!

Or Maybe Just Maybe They Boy Did Want To But Since Its Illegal They Are Making It A Big Deal Since The Boy Was Under The Age Of 18 And Mr. Estrada Is A Grown Adult!

Geezzz People Don't Just Blame The Man!

Yes And Its Also Possible That The Boy Was Forced! And In That Case I Would Agree WIth Most Of You. "

yvonne wrote on Nov 19, 2008 3:28 PM:

" Mandycaly - If I thought for one minute that something was happening to my son I would be on trial right now for murder. Three of my nieces were sexually abused by their grandfather, I have seen first hand what sexual abuse can do to a child and a family. I have sat in court watching my young nieces have to testify against someone who they should have been safe with and protected by. I have held a sobbing teenager, 7 years after the fact, who awoke from a bad dream where "Grandpa Don" was out of prison and coming after her.

My son is in a program at Vintage designed to provide him and other students who are scoring below average on their math and language arts scores with smaller learning enviroments. The class size is kept small so that the teacher has more time for individual teaching. Instead of being in a classroom of 35 he has math with about 10 students. He is a kid who doesn't speak up in class when he needs help because he doesn't want to seem stupid or slow to his fellow students. He will sit in the back and stuggle and never say anything about needing help or not understanding the problem. In this class he is with other students who are at the same level of learning that he is, he doesn't have to compete with other kids or worry about asking for that extra help that he needs. Thats how he now has an A in his math class. Because of this program he also now has an A in Language Arts. PLEASE DO NOT INSINUATE ANY THING ELSE. "

yvonne wrote on Nov 19, 2008 3:31 PM:

" By the way, Vintage is doing a great job with counseling the kids in his class.

Thank you very much Mr. Schneider, the teachers and the counselors at Vintage. It is very much appreciated. "

smoothsailin1234 wrote on Nov 19, 2008 3:48 PM:

" Nelly, you're right, Estrada is a grown adult, and a professional. But he needs to act like one as well. If he really did care about this boy and their relationship and felt that they had something special than he would've waited until it was legal. "

omnidra wrote on Nov 19, 2008 4:30 PM:

" What if what happened between them was consensual? im not saying its right but maybe the boy isn't as scarred as you may think. He might have been ok with it when it started, then got tired of his partner and tattled on him. Who knows. At least we have a person who is willing to have sex with minors locked up, hope stays that way. "

UncleStuy wrote on Nov 19, 2008 4:32 PM:

" Peophiles create an illusion of "being great people". Inside they hold a deep dark secrets. When the peophile is caught, the people associated are in shock and have a hard time believing this person could of actually of done this. There illusion is so great, they are masters of it. It IS against the law to engage in any sexual contact with child under the legal age. A molestation occurs when the "child" is illeaglly touched, groped or attempted to engage in a sexual act. To justify that the young boy was "gay and wanted to" is ethically and legally wrong. This will not stand up in court as a defense. Just because the person is an oustanding teacher and citizen does not have any justification of lenicy or consideration in the lenght, duration, or impact in the sentencing phase. Once proven guilty, you will be required to register as a sex offender. "

gateonfire wrote on Nov 19, 2008 6:34 PM:

" This is the problem with so much media attention. Everyone has the man tried and convicted and even theorizing about what actually happened. As far as I have read, I don't know what actually happened, I only know that allegations have been made and I cannot assume anything, because I am not involved directly in the case. I think I would ahve to wait for presentation of the case to decide if the teacher is guilty. If he is not, his life is ruined anyway. "

antipc wrote on Nov 19, 2008 7:01 PM:

" omnidra, since when can a 14 year old consent to sex with a 31 year old? Automatic statutory rape!

Ohhh wait, homosexuals are protected class citizens & adhere to a different rules. "

TINKERBELL2112 wrote on Nov 19, 2008 8:36 PM:

" NELLY- Do you have childeren? it does not matter if the boy is gay - the boy was 14 yrs old and the man was 30. That is abuse- with the concent of the boy - that does not matter. It is abuse. The 30 year old man knows it is abuse.
Would you/others that didnt know this man was a teacher be saying the same things right now about how great this man is? My daughter was in his class and yes I think he did a good job teaching math and the kids I know liked him - BUT that doesnt mean he didnt do the abuse- it doesnt mean he did either- TIME WILL TELL "

vhsSENIOR wrote on Nov 19, 2008 8:37 PM:

" I am a Vintage high School Student ,He was my first period teacher......
Based on reading these comments i know that most of these parents that just happened to read this in the paper feel the need to lash out on the first person they can blame such as the school and principle for hiring a"sex offender".
The truth is know one knew about this it could have never been detected.
Mr.Estrada helped countless of my friends including myself ,he was everyones favorite teacher and most of all the most selfless person he was everything a teacher could have been.Leaving his class Friday and wishing him a good weekend then to show up at school hearing what happened was like Mr.Schnider said devastating . Im still in shock class is very quiet now no one knows how to deal with this exactly.To hear something like this about someone you respected is just sad thats all there is to say. "

mandycaly wrote on Nov 19, 2008 8:47 PM:

" I believe that for there to be charges brought against somebody there needs to be enough evidence to do so!

I don't want to imply that nice men rape! There are men like my brother
who appear,act,seem like they are nice who do rape~

If this man is guilty of the charges against him,I am really concerned that there are others! "

barefoot wrote on Nov 19, 2008 9:03 PM:

" Has Mr. Estrada made any comments as to his innocence? "

ridesingsmile wrote on Nov 19, 2008 11:18 PM:

" regarding the term "consensual" a person must be at least the "age of consent" in order for this to be a valid defense. In other words, this law recognizes that generally, childern under the age of 18 are not able to "give consent";hence "statutory" rape--maybe both wanted to have sex, but at least one of the participants was legally not of age to give consent. The positions of trust, power and authority add additional weight to the seriousness of the charge. "

nunyabizness wrote on Nov 20, 2008 8:53 AM:

" To everyone making excuses or throwing out the "mistake" card....The article yesterday stated that he performed oral copulation while the child was sleeping. Would you feel the same way if that was your child????? "

roxy wrote on Nov 20, 2008 3:30 PM:

" FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT MY PERSONAL LIFE HAS NOTHING WITH THIS AND WHETHER I BEEN ABUSE IS MY PERSONAL LIFE AND SHOULD NOT BE QUESTION. MR. ESTRADA IS STILL INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN QUILTY AND PEOPLE SHOULD RESPECT THIS...I BELIEVE NO ONE REALLY KNOWS WHAT IS GOING ON AND SHOULD RESPECT EVERYONES OPINION........MY PERSONAL OPINION IS THAT HE WAS A WELL LIKED TEACHER THAT NOT ONLY TAUGHT MATH BUT ALSO HELPED WITH SCHOOL ACTIVITIES AND IF HE IS GUILTY HE WILL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES BUT ONCE AGAIN HE HAS NOT BEEN PROVEN GUILTY SO PLEASE PEOPLE THINK TWICE BEFORE YOU POINT FINGERS.......... "

seniors09 wrote on Nov 20, 2008 4:34 PM:

" I am also a Vintage High student and i was also in Mr.estradas first period students.
Im going to have to agree with vhSenior becuase we both had mr.estrada as a teacher and he did help kids. He may have helped me pass my exit exam and if he did then i dont know how i would thank him. He made a diffrence in a lot of students lives including mine.
A lot of us were devestated to hear that mr.estrada was arrested no kid wants to come to school and hear that one of there favorite teachers has been arrested for haveing sex with a boy.
He is a great person and yes a lot of you may not agree with me becuase of what he has done but you dont know mr.estrada so your going to jump to conclusions and you should know that a lot of his first period class has read the comments that people have put and it hurts to hear your teacher be called a "sex offender"
i still dont want to believe it that he could do something like this so in my heart and eyes Mr.estrada will is innocent until proven guilty. "

gateonfire wrote on Nov 20, 2008 5:48 PM:

" TO the students who have responded who are the people who know Mr. Estrada best: Unfortunately, child abuse, especially child sex abuse, is the one crime that if you are accused, you are guilty until proven innocent. This is a charge that denies constitutional rights to the accused. It is also a crime that is many times unprovable and guilt is determined on the basis of child testimony. As children, how many of you are honest all the time? As people in general, how many times does one person say an untruth about another to be vindictive? it is unfortunate for Mr. Estrada, and every other person accused of child sex abuse, that they are tried in the public forum before they go to court. Students, yu appear to care about your teacher, so pray for him, guilty or innocent. "

antipc wrote on Nov 20, 2008 7:16 PM:

" No one on this thread has convicted the teacher. The problem is minimizing the crime. Being a teacher or a "good guy" is not an allowance for a "mistake" defense. This type of crime is unexcusable, period! If he's guilty he should pay in prison followed by a death sentence. If he is innocent he can walk away. "

VCGraduate wrote on Nov 20, 2008 7:39 PM:

" antipc, sorry to say if he is innocent he won't just walk away, this will affect him and people who love him forever!!! If he is guilty then ya your right! "

antipc wrote on Nov 20, 2008 7:56 PM:

" Unfortunately, these days guilty persons get off on technicalities, which forces society to suspect the innocent. Rule of thumb, stay clear of compromising situations. "

xgrapecrusher wrote on Nov 20, 2008 8:30 PM:

" Roxy have you ever thought about the victim? Have you thought about how high the bail is? you dont get 250k bail for nothing. "

jonb3333 wrote on Dec 2, 2008 4:54 PM:

" Paisano ,
What sentence?
If this guy is guilty he should fry. "

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