Police say the case began after an 8-year-old disclosed abuse at school.
GLENDALE, CA — A contracted special education assistant who worked at two Glendale elementary schools has been charged with multiple felonies after police said an 8-year-old special needs student reported sexual abuse on campus and investigators later identified two additional underage victims.
The suspect, Joseph Vladimir Sanchez, 25, of Glendale, was arrested in late December after the child’s disclosure, police said. Prosecutors later filed eight felony counts that include allegations of sex crimes against children and possession of child sexual assault material. Investigators are now trying to determine whether there were other victims and said the alleged conduct may date back as far as three years.
The investigation began Dec. 19, 2025, when Glendale police officers responded to a report at an elementary school involving a student who disclosed sexual abuse, police said in a statement. Detectives opened an inquiry immediately and said they developed evidence that supported the child’s report. The next day, Dec. 20, police arrested Sanchez on suspicion of lewd acts with a child and sexual acts with a child under 14, according to the police statement. Sanchez later posted bail and was set for arraignment on Feb. 4, 2026, authorities said.
As the case moved toward court, detectives continued interviewing people and reviewing evidence, police said. Investigators said that work led them to identify and locate two additional underage victims. The new information was presented in court at Sanchez’s Feb. 4 arraignment, police said, and the judge ordered him back into custody. Sanchez was being held on $6 million bail after that hearing, authorities said. Police and prosecutors have not publicly described the alleged conduct in detail, and the identities of the children have not been released.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed eight felony counts against Sanchez, according to police. The charging list includes two counts under California Penal Code 288.7, three counts under Penal Code 288(b), two counts under Penal Code 288(a), and one count under Penal Code 311.11, police said. Court records and charging documents often use those sections to describe allegations involving sexual acts or lewd conduct with children and offenses related to sexual images involving minors. Prosecutors have not publicly outlined what evidence supports each count, and police have not said how many incidents are alleged in total.
Authorities said Sanchez was not a direct employee of the city or the Glendale Unified School District. Police said he was an agency-contracted special education assistant provided by the Covelo Group, a staffing company. At the time of the reported incidents, police said, he was assigned to Columbus Elementary School and Glenoaks Elementary School, both in Glendale. It was not immediately clear how long Sanchez worked at each campus, how many students he worked with, or what supervision rules applied to his position.
In a statement released through a local news outlet, Glendale Unified said it was cooperating with the criminal investigation and emphasized its safety policies. “The safety and security of our GUSD students is our top priority,” the district said. The district said it takes reports of misconduct seriously and works with law enforcement “to ensure swift and thorough action” when allegations are made. The district also said it requires background checks and screening for employees and “agency partners,” and that staff members were helping identify and support students and families affected by the case.
The allegations have drawn particular concern because the initial report involved a student with special needs, a group educators and advocates say can face added barriers to reporting abuse. Police said the first report came from an 8-year-old special needs student and that the alleged incident occurred on school grounds. Authorities have not said whether the child’s disclosure was made to a teacher, a family member, a school administrator, or directly to police. Officials also have not said whether the child used spoken language, an assistive device, or another method to report what happened.
Investigators have framed the case as potentially broader than a single incident. Police said detectives are “actively seeking additional victims or witnesses” and believe there may be other victims dating back as far as three years. That time frame suggests investigators are looking into potential incidents that could have begun around 2023. Police have not said whether those potential victims would necessarily be students with disabilities, whether the alleged incidents would be limited to the two schools named, or whether the suspect’s work assignments could have included other campuses or programs.
Because Sanchez was placed through a contractor, questions about oversight and screening are likely to be central as the case develops. School districts commonly rely on contracted aides and specialists to fill staffing gaps, including positions that support students with disabilities in classrooms, on playgrounds, and during transitions around campus. Those roles can involve close contact with students and, at times, one-on-one assistance. In this case, police said Sanchez served as a special education assistant, but they have not described his day-to-day duties, whether he worked with a specific child or multiple students, or whether his schedule placed him in more than one classroom.
Police have also not said what evidence they found to corroborate the initial allegation. In their public statement, they said detectives developed evidence that supported the reported crime, but they did not describe the nature of the evidence. Investigators sometimes rely on interviews, digital records, surveillance video, medical examinations, school documentation, or other forensic findings in cases involving children. Officials have not said whether any electronic devices were seized, whether any school security footage was reviewed, or whether any staff members were disciplined in connection with supervision concerns.
At Sanchez’s arraignment on Feb. 4, he was ordered back into custody and later held on $6 million bail, authorities said. In a separate report, Sanchez pleaded not guilty to the charges. The court did not immediately announce a trial date in the public statements released by police, and it was not clear when he would next appear in court. Prosecutors could seek additional charges if investigators identify more alleged victims or incidents. Defense attorneys can also challenge the evidence, file motions to suppress material, or seek to reduce bail as the case proceeds.
For families, the case has raised fears and uncertainty as officials try to determine how many children may have been affected. Police asked anyone with information to contact the department’s Assaults Bureau, and investigators said they are still looking for witnesses who may have seen suspicious behavior or received disclosures from children. School officials have said they are working with law enforcement to support affected students and families, though the district has not described what services are being offered or how parents were notified about the suspect’s assignments.
Community reaction has also been shaped by the setting. Columbus Elementary School and Glenoaks Elementary School serve young children, and the alleged victims are underage, police said. In cases involving elementary-age children, investigators often rely on specialized interview techniques, including child advocacy center interviews conducted by trained professionals. Officials have not said whether such interviews were used here or whether the two additional underage victims were identified through school records, family reports, or information gathered during the initial investigation.
Police did not release the names of the children involved, and they did not identify the specific campus where the 8-year-old first reported abuse. Authorities often avoid naming schools in child sexual abuse cases to protect victims’ privacy, particularly when a school’s name could narrow down a child’s identity. In this case, police named two schools where the suspect was assigned, but they did not say whether the initial report came from Columbus, Glenoaks, or another location where the suspect may have worked.
The case now appears to be in two tracks: the criminal prosecution and the ongoing search for additional victims. Police said the investigation is active, and the district said it is cooperating with law enforcement. Investigators may review employment records, contractor assignment logs, and school schedules to map where the suspect worked and with whom he had contact. They may also continue interviewing staff members and families, and they may seek more digital or forensic evidence if new leads emerge.
As of Tuesday, Sanchez remained in custody on $6 million bail, according to police and local reporting, and detectives continued asking anyone with information to contact the Glendale Police Department Assaults Bureau. Officials have not announced when prosecutors expect to hold a detailed briefing or whether additional court dates will be scheduled in the coming weeks.
Author note: Last updated February 18, 2026.