Honk News (Sacramento, CA) – Authorities announced on Thursday that a former counselor from a Carmichael elementary school has been arrested on several charges related to child molestation after a lengthy investigation.
The Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office announced that the inquiry into Wonyoung Kim started in September 2024, following a report from Roseville police regarding an incident involving a minor at Bayside Church, where Kim served as a youth group leader.
Bayside Church reported that a background check on Kim was performed, and it showed no issues.
“In September, the first and only incident was an awkward and inappropriate text exchange between Kim and a minor,” the church said in a statement.
The church reported that it filed a police report within 24 hours and took action to remove Kim from his position involving contact with students.
Detectives from the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office discovered a victim who reported being sexually assaulted by Kim during their time as a student at Charles Park Elementary School in Carmichael.
Another student at the elementary school has reported that she was also sexually assaulted, according to deputies.
On Wednesday afternoon, Kim was taken into custody at his residence in Roseville. He faces eight charges of lewd acts on a child under 14, along with two additional counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 involving force, according to the sheriff’s office.
Kim has been taken into custody and is currently in jail without the option for bail, according to deputies.
According to a statement from Charles Park Elementary School, Kim has been serving as a counselor there since 2020. According to the statement, Kim has been on leave since September and has yet to return to campus.
“We are communicating with families at the school to encourage discussions with their students and inform them of supports available if their student experiences anxiety or concern due to this news,” the school said in the statement.
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Investigators think Kim worked at multiple schools in Southern California as well as a Korean language and cultural school in Sacramento. Detectives are worried there could be victims who haven’t been reported.
If you think you might be a victim or have any information, please reach out to the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office.