Teacher’s aide at San Jose middle school charged with groping two boys

A teacher’s aide at a San Jose middle school has been arrested on suspicion of molesting two boys, police said Wednesday.

Junior Labsan Bitao, of San Jose, a 44-year-old teacher’s aide at Sylvandale Middle School, was arrested at his home after an arrest warrant was signed June 6. Police booked him on suspicion of groping two boys, aged 13 and 15, according to a San Jose Police Department press release.

School staff reported the incidents, which allegedly occurred between April 17 and May 1, to police two weeks ago. San Jose’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force/Child Exploitation Detail investigated the allegations before obtaining the arrest warrant.

Bitao was booked on suspicion of four misdemeanors: Two counts of annoying or molesting a child under 18, and two counts of touching a person intimately against their will for sexual arousal. He is being held at the Santa Clara County Jail.

Anyone with information regarding this incident or any other similar incidents are urged to contact Detective Christopher McTiernan of the San Jose Police Department’s ICAC/CED Unit at 408-537-1397, call the anonymous Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 408-947-STOP, or submit a tip at www.sjpd.org.

This story is developing. Check back for updates.