A girl testified in court that a Castro Valley afterschool program employee molested her repeatedly over several months inside Stanton Elementary School, telling her not to tell anybody about what he was doing. Eduardo Lopez-Robles, 28, was arrested in December 2024 and now faces charges including possession of more than 1,300 downloaded pictures and videos of child sexual abuse material, in addition to the molestation allegations. He has pleaded not guilty.
According to The Mercury News, the girl, identified in court as Jane Doe, testified that she first encountered Lopez-Robles between fourth and fifth grade and that the first touching involved a hand brushing over her lower back. Prosecutors say the alleged abuse began in late 2023 and continued into April of the following year. Jane Doe testified that Lopez-Robles directed her into the school library, bought her toys, and told her not to tell anybody — and she said she stayed silent for several months before coming forward.
Lopez-Robles worked for PlayCV, an afterschool program contracted through Stanton Elementary. Colleagues were reportedly suspicious and asked him about their concerns, and he offered innocent explanations.
How the Allegations Surfaced
PlayCV has said its administrators first learned of the allegations on November 18, 2024, and placed Lopez-Robles on administrative leave. The organization has maintained it received no prior reports or concerns about him before that date, per the East Bay Times report.
Police began investigating in November 2024 after two PlayCV employees contacted them when the girl confided in them about Lopez-Robles' conduct. Lopez-Robles was arrested the following month and later released after posting $200,000 bail.
Charge Dismissed on a Legal Technicality
In August 2026, Judge Thomas Stevens dismissed a charge of continuous sexual abuse of a minor against Lopez-Robles, even as the Alameda County District Attorney's Office had filed a motion to keep it standing. The judge separately denied a defense motion to dismiss a count of sexual penetration by foreign object, allowing that charge to proceed.
The continuous abuse charge required proof that three specifically defined qualifying acts occurred within a three-month span. Separately, the possession of child sexual abuse material charge against Lopez-Robles can be charged as a misdemeanor or felony under California Penal Code Section 311.11. A felony conviction carries lifetime sex offender registration, per Eisner Gorin LLP. Lopez-Robles' next court date is set for mid-October.
PlayCV's Role
PlayCV runs an afterschool program at Stanton Elementary School.
Part of a Broader Pattern in Castro Valley
This is not the first time Castro Valley schools have confronted allegations of this kind. In September 2023, former Castro Valley High School music teacher Keita Hasegawa, who also taught at Creekside Middle School, surrendered to custody on seven felony counts of sexual abuse involving a student, a case Hoodline reported on at the time, and parents voiced criticism over how administrators handled the matter.
More recently, Danville police arrested 38-year-old Castro Valley resident James Maldonado this month on suspicion of misdemeanor child molestation and felony distribution of harmful materials after he allegedly dropped explicit photos in front of minors. Together, the cases have kept child safety concerns in the East Bay community under sustained public scrutiny even as the Lopez-Robles trial continues toward its October court date.
