SJPD Arrests Suspect for Grand Theft from an Elementary School Organization

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

On July 20, 2023, at approximately 4:28 PM, the San José Police Department received an online police report regarding a potential theft from an organization that supports enrichment programs at the Schallenberger Elementary School located in the 1200 block of Koch Lane.

Detectives from the SJPD Financial Crimes Unit began a thorough and comprehensive investigation and discovered that the Shallenberger Home and School Association (SHSA) had suspicious financial transactions that occurred between 2019 to 2023. During the investigation, Detectives identified the suspect as Tayesa Knight who was the president of the association at the time.

While serving as president for SHSA, suspect Knight wrote approximately forty-five fraudulent checks, totaling over $400,000, to herself. The checks were claimed to be reimbursement checks for services that were not rendered. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect and a search warrant for her residence.

On April 23, 2024, Detectives arrested suspect Knight in the city of San Jose and booked her into Santa Clara County Jail for the crimes of grand theft and forgery.

The San José Police Department has been working collaboratively with the San Jose Unified School District during the investigation.

"San José Unified prides itself on the pillars of honesty and integrity and we take any allegations that run counter to those values very seriously," stated the San Jose Unified School District. "We look forward to working closely with the District Attorney’s Office and other law enforcement officials as they carry out their duties."

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Detective Wellman #4447 of the San José Financial Crimes Unit via email: 4447@sanjoseca.gov or (408) 277-4521.

Submit crime tips and remain anonymous by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or on www.siliconvalleycrimestoppers.org. If the information you submit leads to an arrest, you are eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program.