A former teacher in Sonoma Valley was jailed Thursday on three counts of child molestation. Patrick Lilley, 52, was arrested after an investigation revealed he had sexually abused two pre-teenaged students approximately two years ago.
Lilley was booked into Monterey County Jail with a bail of $300,000 and is awaiting extradition to Sonoma County, reported Sergeant Cecile Focha. According to staff at Monterey Bay Charter School in Pacific Grove, Lilley was employed there as a first-grade teacher at the time of his arrest; this was his first year at that school.
Lilley had started at Woodland Star School in Sonoma Valley in September of 2004, teaching first grade. He moved along with that class through the fourth grade until June of 2008, when, according the May 2008 school newsletter, he left the area “to live closer to his sister.”
In a public statement from the school, Mark Walden, charter council representative, stated, “Be assured that at the time of his employment with the school, this employee was lawfully cleared to work at the school through a thorough criminal background and reference check.”
Neither the charter council nor school administration can at this time respond to personnel inquiries due to the school’s legal obligation to protect the privacy rights of both current and former employees, he said. “The school community is fully cooperating with law enforcement and taking all necessary steps to protect the best interests of its students, staff, and stakeholders.”
Anyone with information regarding Lilley is encouraged to contact Detective Mike Yoder at 707-565-7600.
