북가주 샌타크루즈 지역의 한 사립학교에서 교사로 근무했던 20대 한인 추정 남성이 지난 2022년 미성년자를 상대로 성범죄를 저지른 혐의로 체포됐다.

수사 당국은 피의자가 당시 교사로 재직하며 교회 커뮤니티에서도 활동했던 점을 들어 추가 피해자가 있을 가능성에 대해서도 수사를 확대하고 있다.

샌타크루즈 카운티 셰리프국에 따르면 왓슨빌의 몬테비스타 크리스천 스쿨 전 교사 이모(28)씨가 지난 14일 뉴욕주에서 체포됐다고 현지 매체 KSBW 뉴스가 19일 보도했다. 보도에 따르면 이씨는 지난 2022년 발생한 미성년자 성범죄 사건과 관련해 14~15세 아동을 대상으로 음란하거나 외설적인 행위를 한 혐의 등으로 샌타크루즈 카운티 구치소에 수감됐다. 샌타크루즈 카운티 셰리프국은 2022년에 발생한 것으로 알려진 사건에 대한 정보를 지난 4월 입수한 뒤 수사에 착수했으며, 수사 과정에서 이씨를 용의자로 특정했다. 이후 수사관들은 이씨가 뉴욕주에 있는 사실을 파악하고 지난 14일 뉴욕주 서폭 카운티로 직접 이동해 그를 체포했다. 이씨는 향후 캘리포니아로 이송돼 사법 절차를 밟게 될 예정이다.

A former Monte Vista Christian School teacher was arrested Aug. 14 on suspicion of committing a lewd or lascivious act on a child who is 14 or 15.

Jacob Lee, 28, is facing multiple charges, according to Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s spokeswoman Ashley Keehn, deputies in April received a report about an incident involving Lee that allegedly occurred in 2022. Detectives identified Lee as the suspect, and on Aug. 14, detectives traveled to Suffolk County, New York, to arrest him.

“When someone entrusted with educating and mentoring young people is accused of committing crimes against them, it is an especially serious betrayal of that trust,” Sheriff Chris Clark said. “Let me be clear that there is no place to hide from accountability. Moving across the country does not make those allegations disappear.”

According to his LinkedIn page, Lee taught biology at Monte Vista Christian from August 2021 to February 2024. He received a degree in molecular biology from UC Santa Cruz in 2020.

It was unclear Wednesday whether the victim was a student at Monte Vista.

In a statement provided to The Pajaronian, Monte Vista Christian School officials said the school “is committed to the safety and care of its students.”

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The statement says that all employees have been “vetted, trained and evaluated through thorough processes and policies, with the intention to create a safe and supportive school environment.”

“We see any unsafe action toward a member of our school community to be a serious betrayal of trust,” the statement reads.

“Student safety has always been and will remain an MVC priority.”

Clark said Lee will be extradited to Santa Cruz County.

“We will never stop pursuing those who prey on our children,” he said. “No matter where you go, we will find you.”

Because Lee was a teacher at the time of the alleged incident, detectives believe there could be other victims.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Munoz at 831.454.7646.

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