Sentencing for a Santa Rosa school aide who admitted earlier this year to felony charges tied to inappropriate touching in a district job-training program was abruptly postponed today. He was taken to a hospital for a medical emergency. The court continued the case and reset sentencing for March 12.
What Happened
According to The Press Democrat, 61-year-old Apolinario Santos pleaded guilty on Feb. 5 to charges that include assault with intent to commit a felony and committing lewd acts on a dependent adult. Court filings reviewed by the outlet show he originally faced 10 counts tied to incidents that allegedly occurred between March 5 and April 14, 2025, with prosecutors filing charges in May 2025. Defense attorney Rahul Balaram told the court today that Santos had been taken to a hospital, prompting the continuance.
Allegations and Investigation
Police say the alleged victim is a 20-year-old participant in a transition-to-work program run by Santa Rosa City Schools and based at Ridgway High School. An SRPD detective reviewed workplace security footage and concluded the touching appeared sexually motivated, writing that Santos touched the woman often multiple times a day, according to reporting by the San Francisco Chronicle. The arrest and subsequent court filings were first reported in May 2025.
Court Timetable
Sentencing in the case had been expected this week but was delayed after the medical emergency, and the judge reset the matter for March 12, 2026. Per The Press Democrat, proceedings in the case were previously expected to begin in April 2026. The defense and prosecutors are now scheduled to return to court on the new March date to complete sentencing.
Legal Notes
The charges Santos ultimately pleaded to were brought after investigators reviewed video and other evidence, and the district has said it is cooperating with authorities. Santa Rosa City Schools confirmed Santos is no longer employed by the district, according to reporting by SFGATE. Police continue to urge anyone with information related to the case to contact investigators as the matter moves toward sentencing.
