Update: Former Modesto teacher who grabbed headlines for relationship with teen is arrested again
The Modesto Bee will not publish the names of minors related to this story. However, archival coverage has not been altered to remove the names.
A former Modesto teacher who made headlines more than a decade ago for his relationship with a high school student has been arrested in a separate incident, the Turlock Police Department announced Wednesday.
According to a TPD news release, Ceres police officers arrested Turlock resident James Hooker, 54, late Tuesday night on a felony warrant in connection with a juvenile molestation case. The arrest followed an ongoing investigation by the TPD.
Hooker was booked into the Public Safety Center on charges of lewd acts with a child 14 or 15 years old and possession of material depicting sexual conduct of a person under 18.
The investigation began on May 17 when the victim, now 19 years old, was in contact with officers about an unrelated incident. She disclosed that her four-year relationship with Hooker began when she was a 15-year-old middle school student. She said they met through social media, their relationship continued, and they married when she turned 18.
Earlier case made nationwide news
In 2012, Hooker gained national attention after he confirmed to The Bee that he had an affair with an 18-year-old high school student. In January of that year, detectives investigated Hooker after the teen’s mother reported the relationship to police. A month later, Hooker left his wife, his three daughters and his job as business teacher at Enochs High school so that he could move in with the teenager.
Hooker and the 18-year-old went on national television, including the shows “Dr. Phil” and “Good Morning America,” when their story broke — becoming infamous seemingly overnight. However, their relationship ended when Hooker admitted to the 18-year-old his 1998 relationship with another girl. The breakup was short-lived and it was confirmed their relationship resumed shortly after.
It’s unclear how long their relationship lasted.
During their 2012 investigation, police discovered Hooker’s 1998 relationship with a 17-year-old girl. Hooker was arrested and charged for this, and then convicted of having oral sex with a minor. He was sentenced to a suspended jail term of 180 days with four years of probation. Hooker was also required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Detectives seek additional victims
The disclosure by the 19-year-old in the newest case prompted the Turlock Police Department to launch an investigation. Detective Frank Navarro was assigned to this case and gathered evidence and statements, which led to a felony warrant for Hooker’s arrest. He was taken into custody without incident by the Ceres officers.
Because of Hooker’s previous “highly publicized relationships with young women,” authorities believe there may be other victims who have not yet come forward, the TPD release says. Detectives urge anyone with information about Hooker or similar incidents to contact them.
“Getting James Hooker off the streets is a victory for the community and especially for potential victims who may have been at risk,” Navarro said in the news release. “This is an important step, but our work is far from over. We believe there could be other victims out there, and we will continue to follow every lead to ensure justice is served.”
Information can be shared by calling Navarro at 209-664-7319, calling the Turlock Police Department’s tip line at 209-668-5550, ext. 6780, or emailing tpdtipline@turlock.ca.us.
