A teacher has been charged with child molestation and child pornography after allegedly taking inappropriate photos of students at a noted private school in Calabasas, which counts President Trump’s daughter among its alumni.
Travis Shojinaga, 39, was arrested Wednesday, leading prosecutors to bring four misdemeanor charges related to child sexual abuse and one felony charge for possession of a child phonograph.
Currently held at the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station, Shojinaga is set to face arraignment on Friday. If found guilty, he could face over three years in prison.
The school, which charges tuition of $55,000 per year, informed parents that they had terminated Shojinaga’s employment due to “inappropriate conduct on campus,” clarifying that this did not involve any physical contact.
According to Principal Mark McKee, school administrators promptly contacted law enforcement upon learning of the allegations. “The employee was subsequently detained and his employment terminated,” McKee stated.
The school confirmed they are cooperating with law enforcement and will carry out their own investigation with outside agencies.
Shojinaga has been employed at Viewpoint School for over a decade, according to his Facebook profile.
Notable alumni include President Trump’s youngest daughter, Tiffany, and former NBA player Mie Oni.
In his statement, McKee acknowledged the distress caused by the situation and offered counseling services to students, encouraging those with any concerns to come forward. “We understand that this situation is extremely upsetting,” he wrote. “We will continue to provide resources such as counseling available to anyone in our community who needs support.”
