Oscar Zelayahas been arrested for sending inappropriate texts to students at Crescenta Valley High School.
On October 26, 2026, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) arrested Oscar Urrutua Zelaya, a 22-year-old student aide at Crescenta Valley High School in La Crescenta, for allegedly sending inappropriate text messages to a student under 18. He was booked at the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station on charges of annoying or molesting a child under 18. Zelaya worked on campus through a third-party contractor that provides aides to schools and has been banned from the campus. LASD is urging parents to talk with their children to make sure there are no other victims. Families whose children were affected may have civil claims against the individual, the contractor, and potentially the school. For a free, confidential consultation with a school sexual abuse attorney, call (866) GO-SEE-SAM.
Under California law, survivors of childhood sexual abuse occurring on or after January 1, 2024, have no deadline to file a civil lawsuit, but acting early protects evidence.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, deputies began investigating after a student reported inappropriate text messages to a school administrator on October 22, 2026. Investigators identified the sender as Oscar Urrutua Zelaya, 22, of Los Angeles, who worked as a student aide at Crescenta Valley High School.
“The investigation determined that the suspect had sent inappropriate messages to the minor student,” LASD said in a statement. Zelaya was arrested on October 26 and booked into the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station on charges of annoying or molesting a child under 18 years old.
LASD noted that Zelaya worked on campus but was employed by a third-party contractor that supplies aides to schools. He was not a direct employee of Crescenta Valley High School, and he has since been banned from the campus.
LASD Capt. Ryan Vienna is encouraging parents to check in with their students to make sure there are no other victims. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station immediately at (818) 236-4015.
The charges are allegations only. Zelaya is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Dordulian Law Group does not represent any party in this matter.
Private text messages between a school staff member and a student are one of the most common warning signs of grooming. Grooming is the process an abuser uses to build trust, test boundaries, and create secrecy with a child, often before any physical contact occurs. Moving communication from supervised settings to a personal phone allows an adult to isolate a student from parents and teachers.
Aides, tutors, coaches, and other support staff are often trusted figures who spend one-on-one time with students. When that trust is misused, the harm can be lasting, even if the abuse never progresses beyond words. As a former Los Angeles County sex crimes prosecutor, Sam Dordulian has seen how abusers often target multiple children and how a single report can uncover a broader pattern. That is why LASD’s request for parents to check in with their children is so important.
The student who came forward in this case did exactly the right thing by telling a trusted adult. If your child reports something similar, believe them, stay calm, and get help. Learn more about the different types of sexual abuse and assault recognized under California law.
Every child responds differently, but parents in La Crescenta, Glendale, Montrose, La Cañada Flintridge, and the surrounding communities should be alert to signs such as:
Online and app-based contact is a growing concern. Our firm also handles Discord sexual abuse lawsuits and other cases involving digital grooming of minors.
Yes, in many cases. A criminal case focuses on punishing the offender. A civil case is separate and gives survivors and their families a path to financial compensation and accountability from everyone responsible. A civil claim does not require a criminal conviction.
Cases involving outside contractors raise important questions: What background checks were performed? What policies governed aide communication with students? Were there prior complaints? Who was responsible for supervising the aide on campus? An experienced attorney can investigate how responsibility is shared between the contractor and the school. Read our guide on how to file a California school sexual abuse lawsuit.
California has some of the strongest protections in the nation for survivors of child sexual abuse. Under AB 452, civil claims for childhood sexual assault arising on or after January 1, 2024, have no statute of limitations. That means a survivor abused in 2026 is not bound by a filing deadline for those claims. California law also generally exempts childhood sexual assault claims from the six-month government claim requirement that usually applies to lawsuits against public school districts.
However, not every claim is the same. Whether a particular set of facts qualifies as childhood sexual assault under the law, and which deadlines apply to related claims, depends on the specific circumstances. Other types of claims against public entities may still be subject to a six-month government claim deadline. Waiting can also mean lost evidence, deleted messages, and faded memories. Speaking with an attorney promptly is the best way to protect your child’s rights.
Dordulian Law Group is headquartered in Glendale, just minutes from La Crescenta, and has represented survivors of school abuse throughout Los Angeles County. Founder Sam Dordulianis a former sex crimes prosecutor and Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County. During his career as a prosecutor, he won more than 100 jury trials and put dangerous predators behind bars. He and his team have maintained a 98% winning record and have recovered more than $200 million for clients.
Families who work with DLG are supported by our in-house SAJE Team (Sexual Assault Justice Experts), a four-tiered approach designed for survivors and their families:
DLG handles child abuse, school sexual abuse, and sexual abuse cases on a contingency fee basis, which means families pay nothing unless we win. Review our case results and client testimonials, or learn more about our firm.
LASD arrested Oscar Urrutua Zelaya, a 22-year-old student aide from Los Angeles, on October 26, 2026. He is accused of sending inappropriate text messages to a student under 18. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
California Penal Code section 647.6 makes it a crime to annoy or molest a child under 18 when the conduct is motivated by an abnormal sexual interest in the child. It does not require physical touching, and it can be based on communications such as text messages.
No. According to LASD, he worked on campus but was employed by a third-party contractor that provides aides to schools. He has been banned from the campus.
Possibly. Grooming and sexual harassment of a minor through text messages can cause real harm and may support civil claims against the individual and against organizations that failed to protect the student. An attorney can evaluate the specific facts.
It may be. Schools have a duty to reasonably supervise students and protect them from foreseeable harm by people working on campus. The contractor may also be liable for its hiring, screening, and supervision practices.
For childhood sexual assault claims arising on or after January 1, 2024, AB 452 eliminated the civil statute of limitations. Other related claims may have deadlines, so it is best to consult an attorney promptly.
Yes. Civil cases involving minors are commonly filed using initials or a pseudonym such as John or Jane Doe. Consultations with DLG are always confidential.
Consultations are free and confidential, and DLG works on a contingency fee basis. You pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation. Call (866) GO-SEE-SAM.
Have more questions? Visit our Q&A page.
If your child received inappropriate messages from the Crescenta Valley High School aide, or from any school employee, coach, or contractor, you do not have to navigate this alone. Dordulian Law Group is available 24/7 for free, confidential consultations. Call (866) GO-SEE-SAM or contact us online. Dordulian Law Group serves families in La Crescenta, Glendale, Montrose, La Cañada Flintridge, Burbank, Pasadena, and throughout California.
Source: Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, as reported in local news coverage, October 2026.
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