Jeremy Hanson, St. Paul’s School Teacher Arrested for Molestation of 13-Year-Old Student

Visalia, California – A literature teacher at St. Paul’s School in Visalia, Jeremy Hanson, has been arrested and faces potential imprisonment following accusations of sexually assaulting a 13-year-old student over several months. The Visalia Police Department received a report on Wednesday, revealing an inappropriate relationship between Hanson, 41, and the female student. In response, sex crimes detectives took over the case, launching a thorough investigation into the allegations.

Detectives discovered evidence supporting the claim that Hanson had sexually assaulted the middle-school student on at least three separate occasions in the past few months. The precise details of who reported the alleged abuse and the nature of the evidence provided to the police have not been disclosed.

On Thursday afternoon, around 2:45 p.m., detectives executed a search warrant at Hanson’s residence located in the 3100 block of West Connelly Avenue, near Walmart Neighborhood Market. Simultaneously, they also searched the teacher’s classroom for further clues. During the searches, investigators thoroughly examined Hanson’s phone and seized relevant evidence, leading to his subsequent arrest.

Hanson, a former Tulare Union AVID teacher, now faces charges of sexual assault, fondling a child, and other related offenses. His bail has been set at $300,000, and if he fails to post bail, he is expected to appear in court on Tuesday.

St. Paul’s School, a private institution without union representation, has immediately placed Hanson on administrative leave, according to teachers at the school. School officials have initiated an internal investigation not only into the accused teacher but also into any other potential victims among the students.

In response to the news, teachers expressed shock and stated their intention to provide counseling to students on Friday, as the community grapples with the impact of these disturbing allegations. The school has removed all references to Hanson and his classes from its website. On his LinkedIn profile, Hanson describes himself as a multifaceted professional entrusted with various roles, including teaching, analyzing, strategizing, designing, managing, and other assigned duties.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Hanson claims to have been employed at St. Paul’s School since 2019. Additionally, he volunteered as an AYSO soccer coach. He obtained a degree in psychology from Chico State University and embarked on a teaching career in 2017, initially instructing English and AVID at Tulare Union.

Established in 1987, St. Paul’s School has been a well-regarded institution in Northwest Visalia. The school offers a religious curriculum encompassing kindergarten through eighth grade. Its facilities include chapel services on a weekly basis, a library, science labs, garden spaces, an art studio, and extensive outdoor play areas, as stated on their website.

Statistics from the Innocent Lives Foundation reveal that as many as one in ten students become victims of some form of sexual misconduct by a teacher before graduating high school. A 2017 study found that victims are often targeted due to their vulnerable living situations.

The foundation’s study discovered that “female high school students from low-income backgrounds” are particularly susceptible to sexual misconduct by school employees. Often, the targeted students exhibit signs of neediness, experience bullying, or have challenging home lives.

The Office of Justice Programs emphasized in a 2017 report that the same characteristics that foster successful teacher-student relationships can also create potentially exploitative situations.

Additional background information on Hanson includes attending California State University, Chico, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in sociology between 2003 and 2007. He held various positions in the hospitality, consulting, recruitment, and marketing fields before transitioning to education. In July 2019, he received his teaching credential and joined St. Paul’s School as a literature teacher. However, on May 16, 2023, the Visalia Police Department initiated an investigation into allegations of child molestation involving Hanson and the 13-year-old female student, resulting in his arrest on May 17. He now faces three counts of child molestation.

Last Known Contact Information

Address: 3126 W Connelly Ave Visalia, CA 93291
Phone: 559-625-1255
Email: jhanson8@mail.csuchico.edu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jeremy.hanson.754

Arrest Information