A man that worked as a paraprofessional inside of classrooms at Shasta Elementary School was arrested this past weekend in Turlock in an online sting operation intended to catch adults trying to meet minors for sex.
Anthony Morrisette, 41, of Oakdale, was arrested by Turlock Police as part of an online chat operation that the Turlock Police held in conjunction with the Sacramento Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, the Stanislaus County District Attorney’s Office Special Victims Unit, State Parole, and the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit.
Earlier this week Manteca Unified was notified by the Department of Justice that Morrisette had been arrested.
He was initially charged with contacting a minor with intent for sex and arrangement to meet a minor for sex .
The district chose to promptly notify the community through an email that identified Morrisette by name and noted that he had been placed on administrative leave and is prohibited from setting foot a Manteca Unified campus or have any communication with staff or students.
The district noted in that email that the alleged conduct did not take place on a school campus and the arrest took place outside of San Joaquin County.
“We understand this news might evoke a range of concerns and emotions among the school community,” Manteca Unified wrote in a statement that was sent out to Shasta parents upon notification of Morrisette’s arrest. “In consideration of this, students and staff may choose to engage the school’s on-campus counseling services, which offer social and emotional support for anyone who requires assistance processing this disturbing news.”
Morrisette was one of 17 people that were arrested as part of the sting operation – where trained deputies pose as underage decoys online and are contacted by adult men who arrange for sexual activity with the minors knowing that they identified themselves as such.
Similar multijurisdictional online sting operations have been held in San Joaquin County as spearheaded by the San Joaquin County Sheriff’s Office.
To contact Bulletin reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.
