Former Fresno Unified Substitute Teacher arrested taught kids as young as elementary school

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- A former Fresno Unified Substitute teacher is a free man after being arrested for attempting to meet a child for sex. 43-year-old Carlos Gonzalez was arrested Tuesday and faces two felony counts.

The Fresno County Sheriff's Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force, along with Homeland Security, conducted a week-long investigation. Detectives intercepted an attempted meet-up and arrested Gonzalez in a public place.

Deputies found a work badge identifying him as a substitute teacher with the Fresno Unified School District in classrooms with kids as young as elementary school.

"We know that he had access to many campuses, obviously thousands of kids," says Tony Botti, Fresno County Sheriff's Office.

Detectives uncovered that Gonzalez used the instant messaging app Kik to contact at least one of his victims.

"The predators like it because they can remain somewhat anonymous, they don't have to have their phone numbers attached. They can use a screen name, and that is a way they can try and reach out and prey on children," says Botti.

During this arrest, authorities were made aware of a second victim in Visalia -- a 14-year-old girl Gonzalez was trying to meet in person sometime this week.

Visalia Unified tells Action News that he was never employed by their district; it's unclear if either of these victims were his students.

"These predators, they're casting lines every single day just hoping to get one on the hook, so if he thinks he's got somebody, he's going to make the drive. We've had people in the past come all the way from Stockton to Fresno thinking they're going to make a meet-up with the child for sexual purposes," says Botti.

In a statement to Action News, Fresno Unified says Gonzalez was immediately blocked from their system.

Gonzalez is facing charges out of Visalia and Fresno. He is set to appear in court later this month and in early June.

Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact authorities or Valley Crime Stoppers.

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