A veteran Inland Empire school administrator was arrested in Costa Mesa a little past midnight on August 17 on suspicion of arranging to meet a minor for lewd purposes, according to officials. Jason Kaylor, 45, was principal of Vineyard STEAM Academy in Ontario at the time of his arrest, and as of September 8 the Orange County District Attorney's Office had not filed any criminal charges against him.
Kaylor was taken into custody in the 3200 block of Harbor Boulevard, according to the San Bernardino Sun. The Costa Mesa Police Department received a report that Kaylor was allegedly attempting to meet a minor, and the department says it is conducting an ongoing investigation into the case. Roxi Fyad, the department's public affairs manager, is among the officials who have addressed the matter, per the same report.
Vineyard STEAM Academy is a school in Ontario. English language learners make up 28.8% of that enrollment, according to the California Department of Education. Superintendent James Hammond has confirmed the district is aware of Kaylor's arrest, though the district says it will not comment further regarding confidential personnel information, the station's report notes. Irma Sanchez, the district's public relations officer, said Desarai Patrick is now serving as acting principal at Vineyard STEAM Academy.
A Decade Leading a Much Larger Campus
Before arriving at Vineyard STEAM Academy, Kaylor served as principal of Alta Loma High School in Rancho Cucamonga, according to Wikipedia. He later served as principal of the school. Alta Loma High is part of the Chaffey Joint Union High School District, one of 11 high schools in that district.
Kaylor kept a visible public profile throughout his tenure there. In May 2025, he authored an article describing how he and district leadership managed Alta Loma's transition from its longtime “Braves” mascot to “Lions,” according to ACSA EdCal. Months earlier, in February 2025, he hosted an all-school assembly where American Sign Language teacher Danyel Smith received California's sole Milken Educator Award, along with a $25,000 prize, as reported by the Los Angeles Patch.
Kaylor also led the campus through tragedy. In November 2022, following the fatal shooting of 15-year-old Alta Loma sophomore Robert “Robbie” Plyley at a Bloomington party, Kaylor issued a statement supporting students, according to CBS News.
What Happens Next Under State Law
No charges have been filed against Kaylor, and the allegation against him remains an unproven claim by police rather than a court finding. Still, any consequences of formal charges would depend on the charges filed and applicable law.
The effect of any formal charge on Kaylor's teaching credential would depend on applicable law. The possibility of revocation or reinstatement would likewise depend on the applicable law. District reporting obligations, if any, would also depend on applicable law. According to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, the commission may begin a disciplinary review after receiving official records from the Department of Justice, a law-enforcement agency or a state agency. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing says the Department of Justice will notify it when an applicant or credential holder is arrested and/or convicted of a crime.
If prosecutors ultimately pursue charges, the specific offense, potential penalties and any registration requirements would depend on the allegations, charges and outcome.
As broader context, the FBI Sacramento Division said that from October 2021 to March 2023, the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations received over 13,000 reports of online financial sextortion of minors. The FBI San Francisco Division has warned parents, educators, caregivers and children about online activity that may lead to the enticement of a minor.
For now, both the Ontario-Montclair and Chaffey Joint Union school communities are left waiting on the district attorney's decision. The Ontario-Montclair School District has said only that it is aware of the situation and will not discuss confidential personnel matters further, leaving the case's next steps in the hands of investigators and prosecutors.
