Drake Sherman, 33, a Rio Vista High School teacher and varsity baseball coach, has been charged with possession of child pornography. Rio Vista police officers and Solano County sheriff's deputies discovered child sexual assault material at Sherman's home after executing a search warrant on Saturday. According to CBS News Sacramento, Sgt. Rex Hawkins of the sheriff's office indicated that the search yielded evidence of recent downloads of illicit material by Sherman.
Sherman, who has also been the athletic director at the school, was placed on administrative leave in March 2024 over misconduct allegations. While the specific nature of that misconduct has not been disclosed, the River Delta Unified School District has cooperated with law enforcement since the allegations surfaced. "Earlier this year, allegations were brought to the District's attention regarding inappropriate and unprofessional conduct between a teacher and some students at Rio Vista High School," superintendent Kathy Wright explained in a statement obtained by KCRA 3. "The District immediately placed the teacher on administrative leave and started a thorough investigation in parallel with law enforcement agencies."
Upon his arrest, Sherman was booked into the Solano County Jail, facing 14 felony counts of possession of child pornography. Parents and community members in Rio Vista have expressed their dismay and concern in the wake of the arrest. Brenda Neavez, a local parent, told KCRA 3, "This is horrible. Like, you don't want to hear these kinds of things about your teachers and your community. It's devastating."
The Solano County Sheriff Investigations Bureau is actively continuing the investigation and is urging anyone with further information or potential victims to reach out. Sherman is slated to appear in court on Nov. 26, as per jail records. The school district's superintendent has assured ongoing support for law enforcement to safeguard staff and students. "We will continue to assist law enforcement in any way we can for the protection of our staff and students," Wright said in statement recounted by KCRA 3.
