The Legal Herald Logo
Legal Analysis By Attorneys
Breaking Legal News

Carpinteria, CA - Cate School Teacher Accused of Sexual Assault

teacher at cate school accused of sexual assault
Published: July 6, 2021
By: Janean Cuffee
Last Updated on August 23, 2021

Former Private College Prep School Teacher Accused of Sexually Abusing Students

Updated 8/16/2021: 

According to the Santa Barbara Independent, a former music teacher has been accused of sexually abusing multiple students at Cate School located at 1960 Cate Mesa Rd, Carpinteria, CA 93013. 

Police issued a warrant to begin an investigation regarding allegations that Da’Jon Tyrik James, a former teacher, had sexually abused both former and current students. James was employed at the four-year private college prep school for only six months before he was fired in February 2020. 

Detectives have stated that they have already identified many of James' alleged victims. The victims of the alleged sexual assault that took place on school grounds are a mix of both current and former students. 

James' has been arrested in Boulder, Colorado, on similar charges that took place at a school he is currently employed at. According to detectives in Boulder, four female victims have come forward with allegations that he touched them in a sexual manner, including fondling, used inappropriate language, and showed them sexually explicit images while on school grounds. The victims also allege that the suspect subjected them to inappropriate kissing on their forehead and prolonged hugging. James is facing multiple sexual abuse charges. 

Former Cate School Teacher Faces Sexual Assault Allegations

According to Cal Coastal News, a former teacher at Cate School has been accused of sexually assaulting students at the school.

Authorities have not yet identified the former teacher. The teacher allegedly sexually abused former and currently enrolled students on the school property while employed, reported the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.

The investigation began on April 1st after receiving reports of alleged sexual assault victims. The Santa Barbara County District Attorney's investigators served warrants at the Cate School campus on June 24th in attempts to gather evidence. Detectives identified several victims of sexual assault; however, detectives believe there may be additional victims.

jason amala
Hi, I’m attorney Jason Amala. I’m a lawyer in California. If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, I’d be happy to discuss your legal options. Call me on the number below. It costs nothing, and it would be my honor to help you.
(888) 997-3792

Legal Options of Victims Sexually Abused by a Teacher

Attorney contributor Jason Amala, an experienced sexual assault attorney, has represented numerous victims of sexual abuse in civil lawsuits. Below, Bobby provides insight on the legal options of victims abused sexually by a teacher.

"Schools and administrations have a legal obligation to protect the students enrolled and provide a safe learning environment. Sadly, there have been numerous cases of teacher sexual assault around the country. To ensure the safety of students, schools should implement security measures. Examples of security measures include, but are not limited to, cameras, guards, reporting systems, and background checks. Schools are required to do their best to ensure students' safety."

"Schools and administrations could be deemed liable in a civil lawsuit if they do not do their best to protect students. Schools could be deemed liable due to negligence. An example of negligence is if misconduct was reported but ignored or not properly investigated. Victims of teacher sexual assault should secure the services of an experienced sexual assault attorney to explore all their legal options. In negligence cases, victims and their families should know they have grounds for a civil lawsuit against the school."

Sources:

Cal Coastal News

Santa Barbara Independent

https://legalherald.com/boulder-co-music-teacher-arrested-for-sexual-assault/

https://abuseguardian.com/santa-barbara-ca-former-cate-school-teacher-dajon-tyrik-james-suspected-of-sexually-abusing-students/

Got A Tip Or Questions 
About A Story?
Call Us!
The Legal Herald
888-997-3792
About the Author
Janean Cuffee
About Janean Cuffee
Editor: Janean is an NYU Applied Psychology major with a double minor in history and sociology. As a NY native, she focuses on highlighting important legal news regarding violence, assaults, and social justice cases. Contact Janean: Janean@legalherald.com This article was fact checked prior to publishing by this author to ensure compliance with our rigorous editorial standards. We will only use authoritative sources. Our values compel us to provide only trustworthy information. If you find an error, please contact us.
Read some recent posts
Find A Local Lawyer

  • Details
  • Incident
Want To Contribute Breaking News? 
Contact Us Today
Legal Herald Logoinfo@legalherald.com
25 SE 2nd Ave Ste 550 #922
Miami, FL 33131
Call: (888) 997-3792
© 2025 The Legal Herald. All rights reserved.

We would like our readers to know that the information in this story may be sourced from secondary sources and may therefore contain inaccuracies. We will correct them if and when they are brought to our attention or we discover them through our editing process. If you have any concerns about this post, please contact us immediately and we will rectify issues. DISCLAIMER: The material contained in this post is for general informational purposes. It is not intended to constitute or express legal or medical advice. Any laws referenced herein are substantially based on general legal principles and may not be applicable to your particular situation. Laws can often be different from one jurisdiction to the next. The Legal Herald is not a law firm. Law firms and lawyers from around the country may apply to become a sponsor or contributor to The Legal Herald.
SitemapMedia RoomDisclaimer / Terms Of Service & Privacy Policy