Yaun Has, a special-education teacher at Cleveland Elementary School in Lakewood, could face misdemeanor child-abuse charges involving students in his transitional-kindergarten and kindergarten class during the 2025-2026 school year. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department submitted the case to the District Attorney's Office on September 4, according to the Long Beach Post News.
Current employment status
Has was placed on administrative leave September 7 after returning to the classroom at the beginning of August, according to the Long Beach Post. Long Beach Unified said Has remains on leave while the district reviews allegations of physical abuse involving students during the 2025-2026 school year. The Cleveland Elementary staff directory lists him as a Special Day Class teacher for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten: school staff directory.
The Sheriff's Department received reports during the school year. A teacher's aide reported on May 8 that Has had been physically aggressive with a nonspeaking autistic child, and reports involving two additional children were received May 19, Sheriff's Sgt. Joe Ramos told the Long Beach Post. Has was temporarily removed from the classroom in May, and substitute teachers covered the class for the remainder of the school year, according to the report.
Charge and district communication
Ramos said Has was not arrested and is not in custody. The sergeant said Has is expected to receive a misdemeanor charge letter by mail and surrender to court, according to the Long Beach Post.
A September 16 letter from Long Beach Unified to Cleveland families stated that Has had been arrested. Ramos said that was incorrect, according to the Long Beach Post. Has did not respond to messages from that outlet or to a note left at a connected home. Ramos said people who suspect abuse involving Has may report it at the Lakewood Sheriff's Station or their closest police station.
Reporting duties and legal consequences
California's mandated-reporting law requires teachers and school aides to immediately report known or reasonably suspected child abuse to law enforcement or child-welfare agencies, according to the California Department of Education. Public school districts also must provide annual mandated-reporter training to teachers and certificated staff within the first six weeks of the school year, according to PRISM Risk.
Under California Penal Code Section 273a(b), a misdemeanor child-endangerment conviction can carry up to one year in county jail and a fine of as much as $1,000. If probation is granted, the law provides for a mandatory minimum of four years of informal probation and a required child-abuser treatment program, according to California Penal Code Section 273a. Separately, state regulations require a district superintendent to report certain employment-status changes involving a credentialed employee and alleged misconduct to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing within 30 days, according to the commission's guidance.
Possible credential consequences
The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing says its Committee of Credentials reviews misconduct allegations involving credential holders and applicants and evaluates their moral character and fitness to provide certified services, according to the commission. A separate June 2026 commission consent-calendar matter shows that certification documents were revoked after Stephen Canciani was convicted of misdemeanors that included child abuse without great bodily harm or death. That case involved convictions, not merely allegations, and a different educator; it does not establish an outcome for Has.
