Drumline coach in Visalia is arrested in student sex case
A Visalia band coach has been arrested in connection with an alleged sexual relationship with a high-school student, police said.
Derek Nishimoto, 48, was arrested Saturday on suspicion of numerous felony sexual assault charges, including unlawful sexual acts with a minor, according to the Visalia Police Department.
Nishimoto is alleged to have had a sexual relationship with the student from about April to September after they met at Mount Whitney High School in Visalia, police said.
Nishimoto was a volunteer drum-line coach in the high school band’s percussion section. He had worked at the high school since November 2010, according to Tamara Ravalin, assistant superintendent of human resources development at Visalia Unified School District.
After leaving in March, he returned in July for band camp, Ravalin said, but is no longer volunteering with the district.
“The physical and emotional safety of our students is our No. 1 priority, and we are watchful for any type of behavior or conduct that is inappropriate,†she said.
School administration planned to meet with students and parents Monday evening to discuss Nishimoto’s arrest.
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UPDATES:
8:20 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with additional editing.
This article was originally published at 12:20 p.m.
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