Retired El Dorado County band teacher accused of child sexual abuse
Authorities in El Dorado County have arrested a former band teacher for alleged sexual abuse of a child and are searching for any additional victims.
On Monday, the sheriff's office announced the arrest of Paul Varoff, 64. Deputies said Varhoff had taught at Oak Ridge High School in El Dorado Hills for more than 30 years.
Varoff was arrested on suspicion of five counts of oral copulation of a person under the age of 18 and five counts of sexual penetration of a person under 18.
A spokesperson for the El Dorado Union High School District said they were notified on Monday that Varoff was arrested on allegations of misconduct involving a minor. The district said he was retired at the time of the claims but worked in a "limited support role" in the district periodically.
According to the criminal complaint, the alleged crimes occurred across multiple locations between January and August of 2023, some in the months before Varoff retired and some in the months after. Some of those alleged locations include Varoff's home, his school office and the victim's home.
District officials said it was not immediately known if the allegations involve a district student.
"The safety of our students is our highest priority. We are taking these allegations seriously and are working closely with the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office," the district told CBS Sacramento in a statement.
Deputies said Varoff was booked into the El Dorado County Jail and is being held without bail. He made his first court appearance on Wednesday and did not enter a plea. Varoff's arraignment was continued to February 2.
"You never know. It can happen anywhere, a small quaint little town, big city. There's just people that are sick minds and hurt innocent children, so I always say you got to prepare your kids for the world and the world's scary," Oak Ridge school parent Samantha DeLeon said.
On Wednesday, the San Juan Unified School District in Sacramento said Varoff worked for them as a band and choir teacher from 1985 to 1995.
The sheriff's office said anyone with additional information or who may know of other potential victims is asked to contact Detective Katz over email or by calling 530-642-4716.
