Modesto Police Department News Release

NEWS RELEASE

Release Date: April 6, 2012 

Modesto Police Department

Media Relations

Office of the Chief of Police

600 10^th Street, Modesto, CA 95354

Author: Lieutenant Rick P. Armendariz

Modesto, CA- Modesto Police Detectives arrest a former Enochs High School teacher for sexual abuse of a minor.          

On Friday, April 6^th, detectives from the Modesto Police Department’s Special Victims Unit arrested James Christopher Hooker for one count of oral copulation with a minor.  This case came to light during the course of a separate investigation involving Hooker.    

Detectives initially began to investigate Hooker after the mother of an Enochs High School student reported an alleged inappropriate relationship between her 18-year-old daughter, who was a student at Enochs High School, and Hooker, who was a teacher at Enochs High School.

During the course of this investigation, detectives discovered a separate victim who was involved in a prior romantic relationship with Hooker when she was a 17-year-old high school student.  This incident occurred in 1998 when Hooker was a teacher at Davis High School in Modesto.  It was alleged, Hooker befriended the victim, and developed a romantic relationship with the minor.  During which time, Hooker sexually assaulted the then 17-year-old victim.             

Investigators obtained evidence, which corroborates the victim’s allegations and detectives were able to obtain an arrest warrant for Hooker. 

Detectives arrested Hooker at his Modesto home and booked him into the Stanislaus County Jail for one count of oral copulation with a minor.   The initial investigation against Hooker remains open.     

If you have any information regarding these incidents, police encourage you to call Detective Steve Anderson at (209) 342-8173 or call Crime Stoppers at (209) 521-4636. Callers to Crime Stoppers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Tipsters can also text information to Crime Stoppers by sending a text message to 274637. Just type “TIP704” along with your message.

(Booking photo of James Hooker)

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