Authorities suspect Elk Grove crossing guard of child molestation

A crossing guard at Marion Mix Elementary School in Elk Grove was arrested on the job by the Sacramento County Sheriff's Department Sexual Assault Bureau the morning of Feb. 24, according to information from the Sheriff's Department.

Christopher Navarrete, 34, of Sacramento is accused of sexually assaulting a 14-yearold who was not a student at the school, according to Sgt. Tony Turnbull, Sheriff's Department spokesman.

District officials and law enforcement did not inform media about the arrest until The Sacramento Bee inquired this week, though families arriving at the school witnessed him being taken into custody, and the district notified parents the day it occurred.

Navarrete was arrested on suspicion of sexual battery, lewd acts with a minor and possession of obscene matter depicting a person under 18, Turnbull said. He was charged with three counts of lewd and lewd or lascivious acts on a child age 14 or 15 on Feb. 28. He is in custody and is ineligible for bail.

Marion Mix is the only elementary school with a paid crossing guard because of the heavy volume of traffic near the school on Laguna Park Drive, said Xanthi Pinkerton, school district spokeswoman. The district contracts with a school crossing guard company for the service, she said.

This is the fifth time an Elk Grove Unified employee or volunteer has been investigated for inappropriate behavior related to children during the last 13 months, and the fourth time someone affiliated with the district's schools has been arrested. Three of the cases have involved Elk Grove Unified students, while two, including Navarette's, did not.

Elk Grove Unified serves 63,000 students and is the largest district in the region.