South Bay Teacher Suspected Of Sex Crimes Involving Minor: Cops

SAN JOSÉ, CA — A South Bay teacher accused of having inappropriate sexual communications with a minor over social media was arrested earlier this week, authorities said.

Trae Devonte Owens, 29 of Hollister, was arrested on suspicion of committing felony sex crimes involving a minor and booked into Santa Clara County Main Jail, San José police said.

Owens is a teacher at Hoover Middle School of San José and his alleged victim is a female student at Lincoln High School of San José, according to police.

Officers on Friday responded to the 500 block of Dana Avenue to investigate an adult male having inappropriate sexual communications with a minor over social media, police said.

Officers determined the suspect contacted his alleged victim using social media and had inappropriate communications with her over a period of three weeks, police said.

“During the conversations, the suspect solicited inappropriate images from the victim, and made arrangements to pick her up,” police said in a statement.

“The suspect did pick up the victim on at least one occasion and drove her to school.”

The San José Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) / Child Exploitation Detail (CED) Task Force obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect and a search warrant for the suspect’s residence, the agency said.

Officers arrested Owens Sunday in Hollister, police said.

Anyone with information about this incident or any other similar crimes are asked to contact Detective O’Grady #4290 of the San Jose PD's ICAC/CED Unit at 4290@sanjoseca.gov or call (408) 537-1381.

Tips can be submitted anonymously by using the P3TIPS mobile app, calling the tip line at (408) 947-STOP, or on www.svcrimestoppers.org.

Anyone providing information that leads to an arrest is eligible for a cash reward from the Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers Program.