Jason Prater, Former Teacher Charged With Child Sexual Abuse
Jason Prater, a teacher who worked in Sacramento and Roseville schools has been arrested in Northern California. The former teacher, Jason Prater, was arrested by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office, SCSO. Prater is charged with three counts related to child sexual abuse. He is accused of sexually abusing a child who was four years old at the time. The girl is now a teenager and recently reported the abuse to her mother, who in turn reported it to police.
If you or a loved one was the victim of child sexual abuse in California, please reach out to our California child sexual abuse attorney at Beck Law P.C. We can help you take legal action and recover financial compensation for the harm you endured.
Alleged Abuser Jason Prater Worked in Northern California
Prater, who is now 49, has worked with children in various capacities in the Sacramento area. Prater worked as a special education teacher at the John Adams Academy in Roseville until August, 2023, and previously worked at the Options for Youth Charter School in Sacramento. He was also a youth martial arts instructor in the area, according to information provided by SCSO. Neither school returned requests by local news stations for comment.
Accused Abuser Jason Prater Held on $4.1 Million Bail
Prater is charged with two counts of oral sex with a child aged ten or younger and one count of lewd acts with a child under the age of 14. The young victim was four years old at the time of the alleged abuse. SCSO states that Prater provided an admission and confessed to parts of the story the teen told the police. According to reports, Prater was a family friend of the young victim at the time of the alleged abuse.
Police Suspect There May Be More Victims
Police suspect that there may be other victims. Jason Prater worked with children, and therefore, it is possible that he sexually abused others. While only one victim has come forward thus far, the police are asking for other victims to file a report if they were abused by Prater in the past. A spokesman for the SCSO says that the community is safe now since the alleged abuser is behind bars. However, he expressed concern that there could be other victims since Prater had access to many youngsters in his work.
What to Do If You Are a Victim of Child Sexual Abuse
Many victims of child sexual abuse such as those by the alleged abuser Jason Prater do not come forward at the time of the occurrence. Many times, abusers groom their victims and prepare them for sexual contact. Children may be afraid to report the abuse or may even think that what’s happening is normal. The abuser may threaten harm to a victim if they report the incident. In this case, the teenage girl reported the abuse now, even though it happened years ago when she was just four years old.
If you are a victim of child sexual abuse, you can feel safe to report it to the police. The police will investigate the matter and determine whether to file charges. Regardless of whether charges are filed or whether an abuser is found guilty, a victim may file a lawsuit against the perpetrator. In addition, the school or institution may be held accountable if they knew or should have known about the abuse but failed to take action to protect others. SCSO is asking parents of children who attended the schools during the time Prater taught to speak to their children and ask about abuse. Victims can contact the SCSO to file a report.
If you or a loved one is the victim of child sexual abuse, you may be owed money for your damages. Contact our California child sexual abuse lawyer at Beck Law at (707) 576-7175 for a confidential consultation.
