Former Richmond teacher held on child molestation charges

Prosecutors in Contra Costa County charged a former Richmond charter school teacher with multiple counts of child molestation related to crimes that took place this year and last, authorities said Friday.

Anessa Paige, a former biology teacher at Making Waves Academy in Richmond, was arrested by Richmond police officers and Sacramento County sheriff’s deputies at Sacramento International Airport on Wednesday, while she was returning from a flight from Hawaii, district attorney’s officials said.

The Contra Costa district attorney’s office filed 29 counts against Paige in connection with “numerous acts of a sexual nature” with seven minors starting in 2021, officials said. The specific counts were not available, district attorney spokesperson Ted Asregadoo said.

Paige’s arrest comes after investigators interviewed victims and witnesses about a “a number of incidents involving sex acts with minors, inappropriate touching, and sharing sexually graphic photos over online platforms,” district attorney’s officials said.

She joined the academy as a biology teacher in late October 2021 and left the school in early February, academy chief executive officer Alton B. Nelson Jr. told The Chronicle. Nelson did not say on what circumstances Paige departed, but said she is no longer employed at the school.

“During the course of an investigation into allegations that one of our teachers violated school policy, we learned of additional highly concerning allegations involving that teacher’s conduct,” Nelson said. “We immediately shared that information with authorities who are reviewing the matter.”

Nelson said school officials are providing “support where it might be needed” to students, parents and faculty.

“There is nothing more important than the health, safety and wellbeing of our students,” Nelson said.

Paige had not been arraigned on those charges as of Friday, Asregadoo said. Paige was in custody in Richmond, officials said.