SJPD Arrests Teacher/Coach for Sexual Assault

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

San Jose, CA — The San Jose Police Department's Silicon Valley Internet Crimes
Against Children (ICAC) Task Force / Child Exploitation Detail (CED) arrested suspect
Ronald Gardner for Lewd and Lascivious acts on a minor. Gardner worked as a Track
and Field/Soccer Coach and as a Science Teacher at Sierramont Middle School in the
City of San Jose at the time of the events.

On February 2, 2021, a male victim reported to El Dorado County Sherriff’s Office that
he was molested by his teacher, Ronald Gardner, while attending Sierramont Middle
School from 2002 to 2005. El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office immediately referred the
investigation to the San Jose Police Department.

During the course of the investigation, detectives from the SVICAC Task Force also
learned of a possible second victim. This victim also disclosed being molested by
Gardner during the same time span.

On April 15, 2021, Gardner was arrested in San Jose and booked into the Santa Clara
County Jail on two counts of Lewd and Lascivious acts on a minor age 14 (Felony) —
288 (b)(2) PC and two counts of Lewd and Lascivious acts on a minor age 15 (Felony).
Persons with information regarding this incident or any other similar incidents are urged
to contact Detective Zanotto #3657 of the San Jose PD's ICAC/CED Unit at
(408) 537-1379 or at 3657@sanjoseca.gov.

Persons wishing to remain anonymous may either call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line

(408)947-STOP (7867), or click the "Submit a Tip" link below.