Napa teacher arraigned on 10 felony molestation charges

<p>A Napa high school teacher was arraigned Tuesday in Sonoma County court on 10 felony charges of sexual activity with a teenage boy, including one count alleging the boy was unconscious at the time.</p><p>Josefat Estrada, 35, postponed entering a plea until Monday, at which time Judge Elliot Daum also will consider arguments about a possible bail reduction or supervised release from jail.</p><p>Sonoma County sheriff's detectives arrested Estrada on Sunday after a now-18-year-old Sonoma youth reported Estrada had sexually abused him beginning in 2005. Estrada was being held at Sonoma County Jail on $235,000 bail.</p><p>In court Tuesday, Estrada was formally charged with eight counts of oral sex with a minor, one count of lewd conduct with a minor at least 10 years younger than he and one count of oral sex while the boy was unconscious or incapable of resisting.</p><p>Estrada told the judge he makes $4,000 a month as a teacher and doesn't own a home. Daum provisionally appointed a public defender for him, pending a decision on whether Estrada is financially able to hire a private attorney.</p><p>Sharyn Lindsey, an assistant superintendent at Napa Unified School District, said Tuesday that Estrada is on unpaid leave pending the outcome of the criminal case.</p><p>She said he began teaching math at Vintage High School in 2005 and is "a very involved teacher."</p><p>Prosecutor Tashawn Sanders said Estrada is suspected of sexual activity with the boy beginning in 2005, when the boy was 14, and continuing until last year. Deputies said the incidents were reported to the Sonoma Police Department in June.</p><p>None of the incidents occurred while Estrada was teaching or at the school, according to the Sheriff's Department. Estrada was characterized as "a trusted friend" of the family.</p><p>Napa records show Estrada passed two background checks before being hired at the school district. He was previously a teacher in New York City, Lindsey said.</p><p>The background checks include fingerprints and FBI records, she said. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing also does reference checks.</p><p>Lindsey said because the alleged incidents aren't related to Estrada's school activities, the district hasn't sent out notifications to parents.</p><p>"We have counselors who are ready at the (Vintage High School) site for any students who feel they need someone to talk to," she said.</p><p>"The detectives involved in the case have, I believe, assured the principal that this does not involve any of our students. . . . Teachers are really working together with a goal of trying to keep the kids' daily life at school as normal as possible, but being there for them if they need it."</p><p>Sanders said she didn't anticipate filing additional charges against Estrada, but said police reports were still coming in. All the charges involve one alleged victim.</p><p>You can reach Staff Writer L.A. Carter at 568-5312 or lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com.</p>