Former Tahoe-area camp counselor arrested in SoCal on child sex charges

By Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times

A 27-year-old male teacher suspected of sexually assaulting two fifth-grade boys in an El Segundo classroom has been arrested, and authorities are looking for other possible victims.

Jeffrey Simonek, who had been placed on administrative leave from his job at Center Street School in the El Segundo Unified School District while allegations were being investigated, was scheduled to appear Friday at the Airport Courthouse.

He was arrested around 6:50 p.m. Wednesday by El Segundo police investigators, who received an anonymous report of possible sexual assault through the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, police said in a news release. Simonek was booked on suspicion of committing lewd acts with children under the age of 14. Bail was listed at $300,000, police said.

Simonek also worked as a counselor at a Lake Tahoe-area summer camp for boys ranging from age 6 to 11 from 2005 to 2011, officials said. Police said in the news release that Simonek is suspected of assaulting young boys at that camp.

Simonek has also volunteered with various youth organizations in Los Angeles and Orange counties that placed him in direct contact with young boys, police said. They said they believe Simonek sought these volunteer and counselor positions so he could interact with boys he could potentially victimize.

Anyone with information is asked to contact El Segundo police Det. Jeff Humphrey at (310) 524.2284 or jhumphrey@elsegundo.org.