Foothill Band Director Arrested On Campus, Charged With Sex Crimes

PLEASANTON, CA — Foothill High School director of bands Efrain Hinojosa was arrested in Pleasanton on charges of inappropriate conduct against a minor that occurred when he was working in Ceres, the Pleasanton Unified School District and police records confirm.

Hinojosa, 40, who worked at Foothill since August 2016, was arrested Dec. 6 at Foothill High School, on felony charges of sex crimes, according to Ceres Police Department records. Records show he was charged with unlawful sexual intercourse with a person under the age of 18 and oral copulation with a person under the age of 18.

Formal charges were filed late Wednesday afternoon by the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office, but specific details of the case have not yet been provided, according to an email sent to Foothill families from Principal Sebastian Bull.

Hinojosa was released from jail after posting bail following his arrest, according to DA records obtained by Pleasanton Weekly.

Hinojosa was placed on administrative leave from PUSD following his arrest and is not permitted near any PUSD property, Principal Bull told families in an email sent Wednesday night. The leave is unpaid because criminal charges have been filed, PUSD spokesperson Patrick Gannon confirmed to Patch.

Bull also told families that the Ceres Police Department, which is leading the investigation, confirmed that the charges have no connection to Hinojosa’s work in Pleasanton.

“I realize that this concerning information may raise many questions among our members of our school community. The District is limited in the information that we receive and can offer - however we are committed to providing students with the support they need during this time,” Bull wrote.

“While it is difficult to share and hear this unsettling information, I did want to be forthright with our school community about this situation. We understand that this news is upsetting and encourage students to reach out to a trusted adult - we will have additional counselors and support available on campus. Students and families are also encouraged to utilize PUSD’s Wellness and Self-Care Resources for Teens.”

PUSD is currently recruiting an interim band director, Gannon told Patch. “We are actively seeking a qualified professional to ensure students are supported and music programs can continue to move forward,” he wrote in an email.

Hinojosa was Director of Bands at Central Valley High School in Ceres from 2010 to 2016, according to his extant biography on the Foothill High School music page. He taught Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Concert Band, AP Music Theory, Color Guard, and percussion.