A routine school day at Alice N. Stroud Elementary in Modesto ended in an arrest on campus Tuesday, after staff reported concerns about possible inappropriate contact between a paraprofessional and a student. Authorities identified the employee as 27-year-old Sheila Tierra Ochoa and said she was taken into custody at the school. Investigators believe the first incident dates back about four years, and detectives are now working to determine whether there may be additional victims. Ochoa was booked into the Stanislaus County Jail with bail set at $395,000.
What authorities say
According to CBS Sacramento, the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office said it was school staff who first contacted law enforcement and identified Ochoa as the paraprofessional suspected of inappropriate contact. The sheriff's office told the outlet that Ochoa faces several felony charges, including committing a lewd and lascivious act with a child under 14, sending harmful material to a minor, annoying and molesting a minor, willfully harming a child and stalking.
Arrest and investigation
The sheriff's department said detectives from its Special Victims Unit went to the Alice N. Stroud Elementary campus, arrested Ochoa there and booked her into county custody. Investigators are reviewing digital and physical evidence and interviewing witnesses as they try to map out a timeline and see whether any further allegations surface. The agency maintains an in-custody roster and provides ways to submit tips on the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office website.
School background
Alice N. Stroud Elementary belongs to the Empire Union Elementary School District and serves roughly 390 students in kindergarten through sixth grade, according to state education data. The campus serves families in the Empire neighborhood of Modesto and is overseen by the local district administration.
Local context
The arrest adds to a tense stretch for school communities in Stanislaus County. Earlier in the month, a 25-year-old paraprofessional assigned to Gregori High School was arrested on multiple accusations of sexual misconduct involving a student, according to KCRA. Those investigations have prompted districts to send reminders about how to report concerns and to place the employees under scrutiny on administrative leave while the cases move forward.
What parents should know
Parents with questions or concerns can contact the Empire Union Elementary School District or reach out directly to the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office. The sheriff's website lists options for submitting tips and checking an individual's custody status. Investigators are asking anyone who may have information related to the case to come forward so they can determine whether there are any additional victims.
Legal note
All charges remain allegations at this stage, and Ochoa is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. The list of criminal counts and the bail amount were reported by CBS Sacramento and attributed to the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Office.
