Goleta Teacher Arrested for Photographing Children
Elementary School Teacher Took Inappropriate Photos of Young Girls at Goleta Beach
Sheriff’s deputies responded to a report of a suspicious person photographing young female children at Goleta Beach mid-afternoon on August 17. The deputies located 28-year-old Stephen Thomsen, an elementary school teacher at Goleta Union School District, and seized his camera, which was found to contain inappropriate photographs of several young girls at the beach. Thomsen was arrested on a misdemeanor violation of child annoying and was taken to Santa Barbara County Jail with bail set at $2,500. Authorities seek public assistance in identifying one additional victim, believed to be an 8- to 9-year-old girl, who was photographed on August 17. Those with information are asked to call the Santa Barbara Sheriff’s Office Detective Bureau at (805) 681-4150.
