School Superintendent In Stanislaus County Arrested For Child Molestation

OAKDALE, Calif. (AP) -- The head of a San Joaquin Valley home school district has been arrested on suspicion of child molestation.

Stanislaus County prosecutors say Thomas Kevin Hart of Oakdale was arrested on July 6 for the investigation of continuous sexual abuse of a child and lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14. A tip from a therapist sparked the investigation.

Police won't say if the victim attended either of the schools in the small district, but parents we spoke to say the allegations did not involve a student.

Hart has been the superintendent-principal of the Valley Home Joint School District.

Hart Arrested On Molestation Charge

Hart has posted bail and is scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 5. He has been placed on leave pending the results of the investigation.

Hart did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday by The Associated Press.

His mother, Gloria Hart, told the Modest Bee the allegations are "hogwash" and blamed them on a "messy divorce."