For release on November 22, 2022
CONTACT:
Kelly Meeker
Deputy District Attorney
Sexual Assault Unit
(408) 792-2928
SJ Music Teacher Charged with Touching Students
A San Jose music teacher has been charged with inappropriately touching almost a dozen elementary school girls in his office.
Israel Santiago, a 43-year-old band/music teacher at Adelante Dual Language Academy, in the Alum Rock School District, is accused of acts including cupping female student’s buttocks while hugging them on his lap. In one case he stroked the bare skin of a fourth grader’s back, underneath her bra strap.
He was in Court today in the Hall of Justice in San Jose and is being held without bail. His next court date is scheduled for Monday, November 28, 2022. He is on administrative leave.
“It’s mystifying when people misuse their positions of authority and trust over small children,” DA Jeff Rosen said. “My Office will come down with the full weight of the law on those who abuse children.”
Investigators found that starting last school year the suspect would take the children in his office, which was in a relatively secluded spot. The suspect, who is 6 foot 4 inch tall and weighs 285 pound, would often hold the girls on his lap and hug them tightly to his body. The children reported feeling extremely uncomfortable.
The defendant gave hugs only to girls. Some of his young victims even sent in a boy to ask the defendant for a hug. The defendant gave him a fist bump.
###