A former band teacher in Modesto, California, has been arrested and charged with arranging to meet with a minor for lewd purposes and lewd acts with a minor following a three-year investigation. Patrick John Mester, 65, was found in the bedroom of a 16-year-old girl by her mother in October 2021, after he had been fired from his job at James C Enochs High School for inappropriate communication with the same student.
According to a press release from the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, Mester was detained on October 23, 2024, and the investigation into the case has been ongoing since 2021. Mester had initially been arrested in March 2021 by the Modesto Police Department for inappropriate communication with the student, leading to his termination from the school district.
Modesto City Schools, where Mester had worked for over two decades since 2003, took immediate action after the March 2021 arrest, revoking his right to visit their facilities and ensuring he had zero contact with students. Despite passing background checks and attending regular training sessions on harassment and child abuse, Mester allegedly attempted to contact the 16-year-old girl again after his initial release on $5,000 bail.
The three-year investigation, which included several interviews with the victim, culminated in the current charges and Mester’s recent arrest. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office explained to SFGate that the lengthy investigation was necessary to carefully build the case over time, given the serious nature of the allegations.
Mester, born in Michigan according to arrest records, is currently being held at the detention center in Modesto with bail set at $650,000. He is scheduled to appear in court on October 30.
