Former CVHS music teacher Keita Hasegawa arrested on sex charges

Former CVHS music teacher Keita Hasegawa was arrested on Sept. 14. and has been charged with seven felonies for allegedly sexually abusing a minor student. 

“There are absolutely no words that can adequately express the shock and sadness that we felt when we learned that someone trusted to work with our students is alleged to have so severely violated their innocence,” wrote Superintendent Parvin Admadi in a message to school staff and families.

Hasegawa met the student when she was 11 years old at Creekside Middle School. Police said the sexual abuse began when she was 13, progressing and continuing as she attended CVHS. The student claimed that Hasegawa molested her in his office on occasions both on and off campus in late 2022. 

The investigation was launched on March 21, 2023 when police encountered Hasegawa at the victim’s home while responding to a reported mental health crisis. According to the police, Hasegawa informed Principal Chris Fortenberry that he was at the victim’s residence to provide “moral support.” Fortenberry then notified the police since Hasegawa had not told anyone else about the emergency.

While investigating the relationship between Hasegawa and the victim, the victim “disclosed inappropriate electronic communications between her and Hasegawa,” while Hasegawa “initially denied [that] their association was beyond the boundaries of a student/teacher relationship.”

Police worked with CVHS students and staff who provided screenshots of Discord messages between the victim and Hasegawa, whose laptop was unlocked, allowing students to access the contents. Hasegawa stopped teaching after spring break in April of 2023. 

On April 20, CVHS announced his scheduled return for April 24, prompting students and parents to give their testimony at a public school board meeting on April 26.

Some people defended Hasegawa, but most students and parents spoke out against his actions.

“To know that the teacher was set to return to the classroom under these circumstances is frankly horrifying,” said CVHS parent Debra Keener.

“He is violent in the classroom, sometimes throwing and slamming objects, yelling at students, and kicking students out. He gets very personally upset with students, sometimes calling them names and being what I see as incredibly immature… It is apparent Mr. Hasegawa has crossed a line that should not have been crossed, and as a result we want him removed,” said junior Luna Estebanez.

After the meeting, Hasegawa did not return to class. He later resigned.

In the following months, police continued to work with students and school staff. Police gained enough evidence to charge Hasegawa after seizing his phone where they found messages proving that “he had been sexually abusing the victim since she was in middle school.”

Detectives presented the evidence to the Alameda County’s District Attorney Office, which later announced seven felony charges against Hasegawa on Sept. 12.

“Multiple media networks reported information related to the case being charged before detectives could arrest Hasegawa. Concerned that the suspect might do something drastic before he was taken into custody, detectives moved quickly to negotiate Hasegawa’s surrender. Hasegawa self-surrendered at the Santa Rita Jail on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023,” reported the sheriff’s office.

At Hasegawa’s arraignment hearing on Sept. 18, the judge set bail for $600,000 and set the terms of his release. The terms include not being able to contact or be within 100 yards of the victim, full cooperation with the authorities including consenting to any and all searches, not being able to be in the vicinity of a minor without another adult present, and he is prohibited from using social media.

Principal Fortenberry declined to comment.