Former Oak Grove School teacher convicted of six felony sex crimes against student Thursday
VENTURA COUNTY, Calif. – Ventura County District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced Thursday that Paul Herder pled guilty to six felony counts in connection with sexual contact with a student.
Herder pled guilty to the following criminal charges:
- PC 288.4(b)-Luring (Two counts)
- PC 289(h)-Anal and Genital Penetration by a Foreign Object
- PC 288a(b)(1)-Oral Copulation of a Person Under 18
- PC 261.5(c)-Unlawful Sexual Intercourse
- PC 311.4(c)-Using a Minor for Sex Acts
Herder also admitted to the special allegation that he took advantage of a position of trust or confidence to perpetrate his crimes state Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
He is currently scheduled to be sentenced on Apr. 29, 2024, in courtroom 11 of Ventura County Superior Court where he is expected to be sentenced to six years eight months in state prison detail Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
According to the Ventura County District Attorney's Office, an investigation into Herder began in February of 2023 after a former student came forward with allegations as an adult.
The unlawful relationship occurred between 2013 to 2017 while Herder was working as a teacher at Oak Grove School in Ojai detail Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
In June of 2023, detectives located Herder in Hawaii where a coordinated effort by Ventura County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit and Hawaii Police Department eventually arrested Herder on Jun. 12, 2023, and he was extradited to Ventura County on Jul. 31, 2023, explain Ventura County District Attorney's Office.
“For too long, the defendant had gotten away with the terrible crimes and abuse of trust he perpetrated on the underage victim,” said Deputy District Attorney Emily Reber who prosecuted the case. “She is finally able to secure the justice and accountability that had escaped her for so many years.”
Below is a message in full sent by the head of Oak Grove School Jodi Grass on Friday, Mar. 15:
I want to share an update on the sexual misconduct case against former teacher, Paul Herder. Yesterday in Ventura County Superior Court, Mr. Herder pleaded guilty to six felony counts after previously pleading not guilty to 23 felony charges last August. The guilty plea was part of a plea agreement with the Ventura County District Attorney's office and is anticipated to result in a sentence of six years and eight months in state prison for Mr. Herder.
News reports have repeated a claim included in the lawsuit filed by a former student that the school made an effort to cover up these allegations of sexual misconduct. It is important to reiterate that immediately upon learning of the allegations, we reported them to Child Protective Services and the Ventura County Sheriff's Department Sexual Crimes Unit. Since learning of these allegations, Oak Grove has cooperated wholeheartedly with the criminal investigation of Mr. Herder.
Though this criminal investigation is now complete, the pain brought forth by this former teacher's misconduct and betrayal of trust will continue to be felt in our community forever. This pain serves to sharpen our vigilance in keeping our students safe. As educators, our primary concern is - and always will be - the safety of our students. I wish our community healing, I wish the former student healing and the perpetrator of these heinous crimes healing, and may he understand the full impact of his actions.
As always, if you have any questions about the policies and practices Oak Grove has in place to prevent sexual misconduct, please contact me directly. This is a priority for me, and I am eager to sit down with anyone who wishes to talk with me.
