Teacher arrested on sex charges involving student
Suspect then tried to blackmail victim with photos
SAN JOSE >> A Dartmouth Middle School music teacher was arrested Friday on allegations he had a three-year sexual relationship with a one-time student and then tried to blackmail the victim with nude photos, according to San Jose police.
Gilroy resident Samuel Neipp, 34, was booked into Santa Clara County Jail on suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts with a minor under 14, oral copulation, extortion and possessing child pornography. He is being held without bail.
Neipp is also an assistant band director at Branham High School, police said.
A news release about the arrest on Saturday did not make clear when the SJPD’s Internet Crimes Against Children and Child Exploitation Detail launched an investigation into Neipp. But it may have started when Neipp allegedly threatened to post nude photos of the victim.
That’s how detectives learned that Neipp and the victim had been in a sexual relationship for three years, beginning when the victim was 13 and one of his music students, police said.
“Neipp used his position of authority to exploit the victim into a sexual relationship,” police said in a statement.
Additional details about the case were not immediately available Saturday.
Anyone with information about the case, or possible related crimes, can contact sex-crimes detective Sgt. Brian Spears at 408537-1397 or leave a tip with Silicon Valley Crime Stoppers at 408-947-STOP or at svcrimestoppers.org. Tipsters may be eligible for a cash reward.
Staff writer Robert Salonga contributed to this report.