A teacher at a private high school in El Cajon was arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a child whom officials described as a family member, according to the sheriff’s officials.
Kevin Conover, 49, a teacher at Christian High School, was arrested just outside the school Tuesday on several sex abuse-related charges, investigators said. Online jail records indicate he is being held without bail and could be arraigned in El Cajon Superior Court on Thursday.
Officials said deputies received a report Oct. 1 of allegations of sexual abuse, and detectives from the child abuse unit followed up.
Christian Unified Schools of San Diego Superintendent Bob Ruhlman issued a statement Wednesday noting that the school first learned of the investigation after Conover’s arrest, then immediately notified families and suspended Conover’s employment.
The statement also noted that the charges do not involve the school or any of its students, “but we are praying for anyone harmed.”
“We will follow this case closely, take appropriate action, and keep the parents and students of our community updated as facts emerge,” the statement from Ruhlman reads.
Christian Unified Schools of San Diego is a private school that serves students from transitional kindergarten through 12th grade, according to its website.
A blog post that has since been removed from the school’s website said Conover taught Bible, or Defense of the Christian Faith, for more than 12 years. Conover also sells an online Bible apologetics curriculum for children, Educate for Life.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Conover also worked as a vice principal with Christian Unified Schools since March 2020.
Investigators asked anyone with information about the case to contact the sheriff’s child abuse unit at 858-285-6112 or after hours at 858-868-3200. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.
Staff writer Teri Figueroa contributed to this report.