EspañolTravis Takeshi Shojinaga, Viewpoint School Teacher in Calabasas, Accused of Taking ‘Secret and Intimate’ Photos of Minor Students
CALABASAS, CALIFORNIA (March 5, 2026) – Travis Shojinaga, a longtime teacher at Viewpoint School in Calbasas, has been arrested after being accused of taking intimate photos of students without their knowledge.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office is saying that the defendant was arrested on February 25. The arrest came after an 11-year-old student informed authorities about Travis Shojinaga.
School officials are saying that the defendant is no longer employed by the school. Prior to being released, he taught at Viewpoint School for 10 years. Travis Shojinaga has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.
Authorities believe that he secretly filmed at least four students. Anyone with more information should reach out to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Liability for Los Angeles County Child Sexual Abuse
Schools have a legal obligation to protect students from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. This includes protecting students from abuse or exploitation at the hands of teachers. According to California Penal Code § 647(j), it is a crime for teachers or any other individual to secretly film students in areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as bathrooms or changing rooms. There are several steps that schools should take to protect students from these types of incidents.
- Rigorous Hiring: Schools should engage in rigorous hiring processes. All prospective teachers and employees should undergo a background check, and their employment history should be verified.
- Staff Training: School employees should receive annual training on appropriate boundaries with students. They should also be trained to recognize potential signs of abuse or misconduct.
- Reporting: Schools should have clear reporting policies when misconduct is uncovered. In certain cases, misconduct will need to be reported to the police.
If a school fails to protect students from abuse and other forms of misconduct, this could serve as evidence of negligence. Consider, for example, C.A. v. William S. Hart Union High School District. Attorneys for the plaintiff argued that their client was sexually abused by a high school guidance counselor due to negligent supervision. The California Supreme Court held that the school district could be liable for the sexual battery under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior.
Steps to Take After Los Angeles County Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse remains a common occurrence at schools across Los Angeles County. This has led to numerous lawsuits and settlements with the school district. According to EdSource, “The Los Angeles Unified School District board this week quietly approved up to $250 million in bonds to settle additional claims of sexual abuse in the district.” Multiple steps should be taken after any suspected instance of abuse in a school setting.
- Protection: The student should be removed from the setting where the alleged abuse or misconduct is taking place.
- Removal: A teacher or school employee that engaged in the misconduct should be removed from the school while an investigation continues.
- Evidence Preservation: All evidence related to the misconduct should be preserved. This will include any communication between the perpetrator and the victim.
- Legal Support: Parents should seek the guidance of an experienced teacher sexual abuse attorney. An attorney can review the facts of any case and identify all liable parties.
It can be difficult to know where to begin after any instance of abuse or misconduct in a school setting. Sadly, schools will virtually never accept responsibility for what took place. They’re more likely to claim that the conduct was unforeseeable and outside of their control. But this is often not the case. By the time any teacher was arrested for criminal activity, there were often many red flags that were missed.
Investigating Los Angeles County Child Sexual Abuse
We at the Carrillo Law Firm were deeply concerned to hear about the alleged misconduct of Travis Shojinaga. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. It is deeply concerning that someone in charge of the safety and protection of children would allegedly engage in this type of behavior. There needs to be a thorough investigation into all of the allegations.
Has your child been a victim of sexual abuse or misconduct at Viewpoint School in Calabasas? There are a number of laws protecting your rights. Our team of Los Angeles teacher sexual abuse attorneys is here to support you. We are committed to helping victims understand their rights and protecting those rights through skilled advocacy. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
