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topicnews · September 9, 2024

District Attorney Charges Goleta Teacher with Child Abuse and Spying – edhat

District Attorney Charges Goleta Teacher with Child Abuse and Spying – edhat

Update from the edhat team
9 September 2024

Santa Barbara County District Attorney John T. Savrnoch announced Monday that charges have been formally filed against 54-year-old Steven Schapansky.

The former elementary school teacher from Goleta is charged with two counts of lewd or lascivious acts with children under the age of 14 and 70 counts of illegal electronic surveillance.

The criminal complaint details that Schapansky inappropriately touched two girls under the age of 14 while they were sleeping on two separate occasions.

The complaint also states that the 70 counts are related to specific unknown persons, with the number of known victims being 46. In several counts, the victims were referred to as “unknown,” suggesting that there may be more victims who have not yet been identified.

Schapansky worked as a teacher at the Santa Barbara Charter School and is accused of hiding cameras in areas where children change clothes.

His appearance in Department 8 of the Santa Barbara Superior Court is scheduled for 8:30 a.m.
on September 13, 2024.

The investigation is being led by Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Detectives Brett White and Gregory Plett. Victims may contact the District Attorney’s Victim-Witness Assistance Program at 805-568-2400 or toll-free at 855-840-3232.

Steven Schapansky arrested Friday in the Fresno area

From the edhat team
6 September 2024

Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Detectives announced Friday that they have re-arrested Steven Schapansky, 54, of Goleta, on child abuse charges.

Officers began their investigation on July 12, 2024, when they received a report of secret recording devices found in the Schapanskys’ belongings. As a result of the initial investigation, investigators arrested Schapansky on July 13, 2024, for Invasion of Privacy with a Recording Device (Misdemeanor) and he was subsequently released.

According to a now-removed page on the school’s website, Schapansky taught 5th and 6th grade at the Santa Barbara Charter School.

The school teaches about 240 children from preschool through 6th grade at its campus at 6100 Stow Canyon Road in Goleta.

Investigators conducted extensive research into this case to identify the juvenile victims who were filmed without their knowledge. This footage was taken in various locations, in areas where juveniles were changing clothes, according to the sheriff’s office.

Teacher photo by Steve Schapansky of Santa Barbara Charter School (courtesy)

On Friday, the sheriff’s office announced that detectives are now investigating the case and have identified Schapansky as a suspect in a child abuse case. Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Schapansky and tracked him to his location in the Fresno area.

With the assistance of the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, detectives arrested Schapansky on a warrant in the City of Fresno at approximately 10:00 a.m. on Friday, September 6, 2024. He was booked into the Northern Branch Jail where he is being held on $100,000 bail.

The sheriff’s office said no information identifying the minor survivor could be released.

The Santa Barbara Unified School District and Santa Barbara Charter School are facing a negligence lawsuit after a teacher allegedly filmed students with hidden cameras. The suit was filed by the parents of a child known as Jane Doe who was proven to be a victim of the recordings.

Attorneys David Ring and Natalie Weatherford of plaintiffs’ law firm Taylor and Ring filed the suit on behalf of Doe’s family. This preliminary step usually precedes a full lawsuit and is aimed at securing damages for the victims. The attorneys claim they have reason to believe Schapansky recorded students over a six-year period.

As previously reported by The IndependentThe Santa Barbara Charter School filed a temporary restraining order against him on July 24 for workplace violence to protect Cristina Cullen, the school’s superintendent. A court hearing is scheduled for August 12.

“Sheriff’s detectives work closely with the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Victim-Witness Program to ensure that victims’ needs are not neglected by the focus on the investigation and prosecution of the defendant. Attorneys are available to ensure victims are informed and supported throughout the criminal process. Victims have the option of contacting the Victim-Witness Assistance Program directly at 805-568-2400 or toll-free at 855-840-3232,” the Sheriff’s Office states.

The sheriff’s office had previously stated that it was working closely with the Santa Barbara Charter School administration to coordinate education and support services.

Related articles

Santa Barbara Charter School teacher arrested for filming teens with hidden camera

Lawsuit filed against Santa Barbara Charter School and school district for negligence in teacher’s filming of students

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