An employee at Diegueno Middle School in Encinitas has been arrested on suspicion of child molestation and supplying a minor with marijuana, the San Diego County Sheriff's Department reported Tuesday. Omar Galeana, 21, was taken into custody after detectives from the Child Abuse Unit acted on a tip that he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old outside of school on March 22.

The probe into the alleged incident was launched when authorities were notified, leading to Galeana's arrest by the North Coastal Sheriff’s Station detectives this Sunday and booking at the Vista Detention Facility. Galeana held a connection to the school as a campus supervisor.

The Sheriff's Department withholds details of the crime due to the victim's age but encourages anyone with information to step forward. In a statement provided to the San Diego Sheriff's Department website, Lieutenant Lon Nguyen emphasized the commitment to student safety, urging them to report any suspicious activity to the appropriate channels, including school resource deputies and the anonymous Students Speaking Out Hotline.

Authorities have maintained a tight-lipped stance given the ongoing investigation and the juvenile status of the victim. Yet, this arrest throws into sharp relief the vulnerabilities within the institutions meant to be safe havens for our youth. The community of Encinitas and the parents of Diegueno Middle School are now grappling with a betrayal of trust.

Those who have relevant information are encouraged to contact the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department at (858) 565-5200 or can report anonymously using the hotline at (888) 580-8477. Additional contact for media has been provided through Lieutenant Lon Nguyen at [email protected] or directly to the Sheriff's Family Protection Detail at (858) 285-6149.

For more details, please visit the San Diego County Sheriff's Department announcement on their official website at San Diego County Sheriff's Department News Release.