High School Volleyball Coach Arrested For Molesting Teen Boys In California

The head volleyball coach at Independence High School in San Jose, California, was arrested Thursday for allegedly molesting three underage teen boys. He has been charged on three counts of annoying or molesting a child under 18 years of age and three counts of sexual battery.

Peter Samonte, 24, was arrested after an investigation revealed he had inappropriately touched the boys between January 2017 and October 2018. Two boys are now 16 and one is 15. Police said staff members of the school informed them about the crimes Wednesday.

Sgt. Enrique Garcia said the boys were students at the high school and played for the volleyball team that was coached by Samonte.

Linda Ornelas, East Side Union High School District spokeswoman, said the coach had gone through normal background check and coaching certification process before joining the school.

“We want to assure the East Side community that the safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority and we are shocked and deeply disturbed that this could happen. Mr. Samonte has been relieved of his position,” the district said in a statement, the Mercury News reported.

“Anyone with information regarding this incident or any other similar incidents are urged to contact Detective Christian Mendoza of the San Jose Police Department’s ICAC/CED Unit at (408) 537-1379. Persons wishing to remain anonymous may call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line, (408) 947-STOP (7867). Persons providing information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect may be eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers,” the police department said in a statement.

In a similar incident in 2015, a male school teacher was arrested on charges of sexually harassing minor boys for two years in the Indian city of Mangalore. Dolphy Sequeira was an English and social science teacher who taught students of grades 6, 7 and 8. He allegedly took students to the project room in the school and sexually assault them since it did not have a CCTV.

The incident came to light after a 12-year-old boy narrated the incident to his parents. He said the teacher took him to the room and despite his protests, sexually assaulted him. The parents spoke to the parents of another boy of the same school, who had also been a victim of the teacher. A police complaint was filed by the parents of the two boys. During the investigation, it was revealed he also took students to his house on the pretext of giving them tuitions and sexually assault them.

He was arrested under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012. The school management said immediate action was taken after the parents complained to the management regarding the incident.

"An emergency meeting was called by the school management and it was decided to form a four-member committee comprising teachers and parents to investigate the matter thoroughly. Also, the accused teacher has been suspended from the school pending enquiry," the management said in a statement, local website Daiji World reported.