Alvarado Elementary School third-grade teacher Michael Howey, accused to molesting young children, allegedly isolated his third-grade female students at recess to gve them "long hugs," rub their bellies, and "kiss them on the mouth."

Howey allegedly molested his students in both his classroom and during recess. In a lengthy, harrowing report, Oakland Tribune notes:

The victims told police their teacher kissed them on the lips, nose, forehead and neck during recess, called them cute and stylish and would compliment their hair, clothing and ponytails, court records show. A few victims said he put his hands under their clothing or touched their buttocks as they sat face forward on his lap, the affidavit shows.

One victim told police that her teacher had a "cutiest (sic) girl list and a goodiest (sic) girl list."One victim, when interviewed, cried when she said her teacher kissed her lips and forehead and that "she felt like it happened every day." She told officers that sometime after spring break, her teacher pulled her aside, praised her for a good test score and then kissed her lips during recess, court records show. The girl said she ran outside to get away.

Howey initially told investigators that he never hurt anyone, that he only comforted a young girl who was crying after failing a test. However, when a detective later told him that the investigation involves more than one girl, he "hung his head, cried and 'admitted he had made some mistakes.' "

Arrested May 1 without at his home in Alameda, he was whisked to Santa Rita Jail. He has been charged with "17 counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 and 23 counts of annoying and molesting a child."

Howey worked for the district for 14 years. He is now on "paid administrative leave." According to Mercury News, he had no prior disciplinary action.

[Mercury News]
[Oakland Tribune]

Joel Kaufman, 52, who once coached at Bishop O'Dowd High School in Oakland and Palo Alto High School, stands accused of molesting one teen boy and secretly filming another in a bathroom. And there might be more.

Kaufman, who was accused of similar acts last year, has also attempted suicide with pills and razorblades in August. Malaika Fraley and David DeBolt of Contra Costa Times have more:

Police first arrested Kaufman in August after the male he is accused of molesting and his parents contacted Orinda police in late July. Charges were not filed then, pending the police investigation, and within days Kaufman attempted suicide in a Monterey hotel room, according to police.

Kaufman's 85-year-old father called 911 shortly after midnight Aug. 12 and reported his son had tried to kill himself using pills and razor blades, Monterey police said. The father, Allan Kaufman, said his son wanted to die because he was out on bail for an assault arrest.
Officers found Joel Kaufman bleeding in a hotel bathtub and had him hospitalized for a mental health evaluation.

As of now, Kaufman's whereabouts are unknown. His neighbors have described him as a shady character. "Over 20 years, not a word. Not a hello. He just comes out, that garage door goes open, and he drives down the street. Never turns his head, never said hello to him," neighbor Art Ratner told KGO.

Kauffman, who also runs owns and operates Triple Play U.S.A., a San Leandro batting cage, stands accused of "three felonies and two misdemeanors involving a minor male victim for alleged crimes from September 2005 to June 2012." One charge includes a felony count of "sexual penetration of a drugged person."

He also is accused of videotaping a minor using a bathroom.

Polcie have asked anyone with any information on the case or Kaufman's whereabouts to call Orinda police Sgt. Neil Rafanan or Detective Travis Dennison at 925-254-6820.

[Oakland Tribune]
[KGO]
[Monterey Herald]

Described as a 6-foot-plus man who tends to sits in the two-person seats n the T-Third line, an alleged molester is on the loose on Muni. According to a Muni Diaries contributor, "He will sit next to you in the cramped two-person seats. At some point he will move one of his arms to the side, like he’s reaching for something in his pocket. The only thing is, the arm stays in that awkward position, usually touching a young girl’s thigh or buttock for a really long time."

Ew.

Two years ago, if you recall, a man dubbed "the Muni humper" would grind against women while they stood on packed trains. Hopefully, we don't have another humper on our hands.

Beware.

[via SF Appeal]

Robert Klatt, 32, was charged with child molestation on Tuesday. The San Jose minister is accused of "lewd and lascivious acts with a minor for allegedly victimizing two junior-high-age youths." Witnesses and potential victims are urged to call Detective Latendresse of the San Jose Police Department’s sexual assault unit at 408-277-4102. For those who want to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 408-947-STOP or visit svcrimestopper.org. [CBS 5]

JoeMyGod has some shocking, yet not so surprising, news on the same-sex marriage front: "Pastor Tom Daniels of Rio Linda, California is being held on $6M bail after being charged with multiple felony counts of sexual assault on a child." Lavender Newswire notes that that the Baptist pastor "twice made donations to Protect Marriage, the backers of Proposition 8."

Daniels, who donated $230 to stop gay marriage in California back in 2008, allegedly sexually assaulted a 14-year-old, though police suspect he has more victims that have yet to come forward. He has, so far, been charged with six felony child molestation acts.

Watch the KXTV news report below.

Earlier this week, a retired Daly City police officer witnessed an "elderly man" in his 60s talking to a 2-year-old girl at a McDonald's on Redwood Highway. Deciding something fishy was afoot, said officer "called for the deployment of uniformed personnel" (i.e., backup) to help nab the alleged McDonald's molester in action. This Chris Hansen moment, however, turned out to be something different, something all too innocent. According to 's Gary Klien, "Units arrived on scene, initiated an investigation, and determined there was negative suspicious activity, as the male subject was the juvenile party's grandfather. The elder party advised units that he had effected a conversation with the juvenile 'about nonsense' in order to 'keep her entertained.'" No arrests were made. The grandpa and granddaughter went on to enjoy their Happy Meals in peace, shock.

The San Mateo area has played host to all sorts of wackiness as of late. Take, for example, the 8-year-old boy who was approached by a strange man in the area of El Camino Real and East Santa Inez Avenue at about 6:15 p.m. on Saturday. See, said strange man "pulled alongside him and asked him to get into the car," but the smart kid said no. According to BCN, "[t]he driver was described as a black man around 30 years old with a medium build and short hair. He was wearing an orange shirt, shorts and a green visor. The vehicle was described as a black compact car, according to police." Know this creep or saw what happened? Please call San Mateo police at 650-522-7676. Also, Sheriff's Deputies in San Mateo County have warned residents to be on the lookout for "suspicious looking soda bottles, after a series of acid bomb explosions." Crude acid bombs, it seems, have been discovered "in three locations in Redwood City and Belmont."

The North Bay had a characteristically macabre Monday night. Last night at a little before 8:30 p.m., a woman was walking near Water Street near the Petaluma River when a sketchy man approached her from behind, then robbed and stabbed her in the face. Ouch. According to CBS 5, "[t]he suspect is a heavyset white male adult, about 50 years old and clean-shaven with dark hair. He was wearing a plaid shirt and blue jeans ... Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call Petaluma police at 707-778-4372."

Then, a few miles up north in Santa Rosa, a little after midnight, an intruder sexually assaulted a 12-year-old girl in her bedroom. After molesting the child, the suspect escaped. According to Mercury News, "he is described as a man with dark skin around 40 years old, 5 feet 5 inches tall with a 'chunky'' build and wearing dark clothing, according to police. Anyone with information regarding this or a similar attack is asked to contact the Santa Rosa Police Department's Domestic Violence/ Sexual Assault Team at (707) 543-3595."

Marina Middle School coach Stephen Pedersen, 45, turned himself into authorities yesterday after a warrant was out for his arrested regarding molestation charges of a 13-year-old student. Pedersen has been hit with with "three counts of lewd or lascivious acts and one count of continuous sexual abuse of a child."

And the best part? SF Weekly's Lauren Smiley uncovered the following eyeopening bit on him.

Incidentally, Pedersen garnered 3.9 stars out of a possible 5 on the Web site Rate My Teachers (there were 20 reviews). In light of Pedersen's arrest, however, this October 2007 review raised eyebrows: "eww pedersen??! ask some girls and they'll tell you wat (sic) they REALLY think of him....shudders."

Further proof that teenage girls know everything, period.

If you think you may have been touched anywhere in your bathing suit area by Mr. Pedersen, please contact Inspector Liane Corrales of the Juvenile Division at 415-558-5529.

As if the DMV weren't annoying in and of itself, now you can add sexual molestation to the list of ways that the Department of Motor Vehicles makes your life miserable. (...and what's up with airline food, huh, folks?) Four women claiming that they were touched inappropriately by former DMV instructor Calvin Hoang Cat will split $450,000 in a lawsuit settlement with the state of California. According to CBS 5:

They say Cat would ask the women—then minors—to park the car next to a curb without touching it. If they failed, he allegedly asked them to lean over his lap to better see the rearview mirror, then touched them on their hips and breasts.

Wonder if he failed any of them? Because that would be cruel.

Cat also fessed up to touching 14 other girls while on the job, and received a year and a half in the clink. Now who's getting fondled, Mr. Grabby Hands?