Man who works at Sacramento area school arrested for molesting 4-year-old
A man who works with children in the Sacramento area is in custody for molesting a 4-year-old girl.
The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office said a woman called on Friday to report her teenage daughter had been sexually abused when she was four years old by a family friend.
Both the woman and her daughter were interviewed and the suspect was identified as 49-year-old Jason Prater, according to the sheriff's office. He was later arrested for two counts of oral sex with a child age 10 or younger and one count of lewd acts with a child under age 14.
Deputies said Prater made admissions and confirmed significant parts of the girl's statement during his interview with detectives.
The sheriff's office said Prater is an education specialist at John Adams Academy in Roseville. KCRA 3 reached out to the school to confirm his employment status but has not heard back.
Deputies also said Prater was a special education teacher at Options for Youth Charter School in Sacramento. The school said he has not been employed there since August 18, 2023.
Prater is also a martial arts instructor for children in the Roseville area, the sheriff's office said. It is unknown whether he was affiliated with any particular studio.
Prater's bail is $4.1 million, according to jail records, and he is scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday.
Detectives are asking for help from the public to identify any other potential victims of Prater. The sheriff’s office child abuse bureau can be reached at (916) 874-5191 and childabuse@sacsheriff.com.
Correction (May 20, 2024): This article has been corrected to reflect that Prater has not been employed with the Options for Youth Charter School in Sacramento since Aug. 18, 2023. A previous version said he has been with the organization since Aug. 18, 2023.