Stockton high school teacher arrested in child sexual abuse material case, CHP says

A Stockton high school teacher arrested Tuesday on suspicion of possessing child sexual abuse material has been placed on administrative leave, Lincoln Unified School District said.

The California Highway Patrol identified him as Nickolas Turpen-Arends, 40, a culinary arts teacher at Lincoln High School. Investigators found the material on a computer at his home, the agency said.

Investigators allege Turpen-Arends had more than 65,000 images of child sexual abuse material, CHP said. A full forensic examination of the computer is still underway.

CHP's Computer Crimes Investigation Unit spent months investigating an internet protocol address before serving a search warrant at his Stockton home Sept. 22. The agency's SWAT team assisted. Investigators found the material during a preliminary examination of a desktop computer.

Lincoln Unified said it placed Turpen-Arends on administrative leave and is participating in CHP's investigation. It declined further comment, citing the ongoing investigation and a confidential personnel matter.

"To date, the District is not aware of any allegation and has no information suggesting that any District student is involved," district officials said.

CHP said Turpen-Arends was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail.