Anaheim Teacher Arrested at Elementary School on Suspicion of Possessing Child Pornography

Anaheim Teacher Arrested at Elementary School on Suspicion of Possessing Child Pornography

May 21, 2021

An Anaheim schoolteacher was arrested Wednesday at his place of work on suspicion of possessing child pornography. Anaheim Police Department’s Sexual Assault Detectives Unit arrested 39-year-old Joseph Williams Page, a sixth grade teacher at local Guinn Elementary School, early that morning.

According to an Anaheim Police Department press release, Page was identified during an online investigation. As a result of that investigation, Page is suspected of possession of child pornography. A search warrant was also executed at Page’s home, located in the City of Anaheim. No details concerning whether or not any evidence was recovered during the search were provided by authorities.

Page was booked at the Anaheim jail for the charge of possession of child pornography, and is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail. The police department’s press release indicates that Sexual Assault Detectives are “not commenting on the amount or specific nature of the suspected child pornography images.”

Authorities are asking anyone with additional information regarding Joseph Williams Page (or any potential victims) to call the Anaheim Police Department at 714-765-1697.

More specifically, any parents or former students who may have information that could be useful to the Anaheim Police Department’s investigation are urged to contact authorities immediately.

Local news outlet, KTLA, reported that police are also encouraging parents who have students at the school where Page worked to speak to their children, especially those who may have had contact with the teacher. According to KTLA, at this time investigators do not believe any students were victims.

This is, sadly, the second DLG blog this week that has covered the topic of child pornography. Yesterday, we posted a blog after a Fresno man was released on bond following an arrest that led to the discovery of over 1,000 child pornography DVDs. In that piece, we noted that scientific studies indicate it is not uncommon for consumers of child pornography to also be sexual predators who physically harm young children.

For additional information on recommendations for how to keep children protected from sexual predators, take a moment to view one of our blogs from last year.

Wave of Local Teacher Arrests Related to Sexual Assault or Child Porn

This marks the fourth DLG blog in three months that has concerned teachers arrested for either sexual abuse or child pornography. In February, a local Glendale teacher was arrested on allegations of molesting students. The teacher, Brett Mohr of Glendale Adventist Academy, was charged with multiple felony counts.

In April, an elementary school teacher in Florida was arrested for soliciting sex with a 2-year-old. Xavier Donte Alexander, a fourth grade teacher at Grove Park Elementary school in Palm Beach Gardens, was arrested on felony charges after traveling to meet with the child.

Last week, a former Burbank and Hollywood-area teacher was handed a 30-year sentence for producing pornographic images of his 15-year-old ex-student. Sean David Sigler had taught fifth grade at Bret Harte Elementary School in Burbank and at Gardner Street Elementary School in Hollywood.

And in February, shortly after the Brett Mohr story surfaced, a local San Bernardino County principal was arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a young girl. Matthew Lin Johnson was an assistant principal at Oak Hills High School. Johnson was arrested in February and charged with continuous sexual abuse of a minor, including lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14.

Although we’ve covered the topic previously, given the rash of troubling arrests of late it seems appropriate to re-emphasize the fact that sexual predators are notorious for using positions of influence and proximity to children – teachers, coaches, clergy members, etc. – to commit sex crimes.

In our February interview with two of DLG’s SAJE Team (Sexual Assault Justice Experts) members – attorney Sam Dordulian and chief investigator Moses Castillo – we discussed the grooming process that sexual assault predators will often utilize to garner trust on the part of both parents and students.

For parents, it’s especially important to remember two critical points:

• Sexual abuse crimes can happen to anyone, particularly children
• Any adult, regardless of their career or public persona, can be a sexual predator

Our Sexual Assault Justice Experts are here to help survivors secure justice. Contact our top-rated attorneys online or by phone for a free consultation today.

As DLG’s Sam Dordulian stated in February, sexual abuse predators actively seek out these positions in order to gain access to children.

“It’s important to remember that sexual predators are notorious for seeking out positions (whether as a professional or volunteer) that allow them access to children. Granted, 95% of coaches, teachers, clergy, volunteers at religious institutions, etc. are likely upstanding citizens. But parents need to be aware that there’s no standard model for a sexual predator. A predator can be any of age, gender, socioeconomic status, etc.,” Dordulian said.

Additionally, parents need to always remain vigilant. As Dordulian pointed out in the previous interview, nothing can be taken for granted when a child’s safety is at stake.

“One major problem I consistently encounter with parents is their tendency to automatically view these individuals as sort of noble citizens. They don’t appreciate the potential predator instinct any random coach, teacher, clergy member, or even close friend or relative could have. I often tell parents about a case I was involved in as a Deputy District Attorney, where a teacher openly admitted that he chose the profession in order to have unlimited access to children. So, it’s important for parents to be aware that any professional who has direct private access to their children could potentially be a predator,” Dordulian said.

And while hysteria is never a good idea, Dordulian notes that parents to need to maintain a sense of urgency around this sensitive subject. As the wave of recent arrests has demonstrated, children are indeed at risk, and parents need to take an active role in ensuring they are not victimized.

“Without encouraging paranoia, you do, in a sense, almost have to be on constant alert, because it can impact any child of any age/gender at any time. It’s not by accident that these people became teachers or coaches or clergy, it’s by design,” Dordulian said in February.

If you or your child suspects that sexual abuse is occurring, contact Dordulian Law Group’s Sex Crimes Division to report the incident. Moreover, if you have questions about what constitutes sexual abuse or what legal options are available after an incident, we’re here to help.

Reach out to a member of our SAJE Team 24/7 online or by calling 818-322-4056.