Carmichael school counselor, charged with child sex assault, made $70,000 on leave
A Carmichael elementary school counselor charged earlier this year with sexually abusing children has earned about $70,000 while on paid leave and remains employed by the San Juan Unified School District.
Wonyoung Kim, 36, was charged in February 2025 and is now facing a new civil lawsuit filed this month in Sacramento Superior Court. The complaint alleges one of the victims was a student at Charles Peck Elementary School.
Kim has been on leave since September 2024, district spokesperson Raj Rai said. He remains an employee of the district.
Kim, 36, was arrested in February 2025 — about six months after he was first placed on leave — following a monthslong investigation by the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office. Prosecutors charged him with 10 felony counts of lewd acts involving children under 14, including two counts alleging force.
At the time of his arrest, detectives said two female students at Charles Peck Elementary reported inappropriate conduct during counseling sessions. Investigators also said the case expanded to include allegations involving a minor connected to Kim’s volunteer role as a youth group leader at Bayside Church in Roseville.
Authorities said they were first alerted in September 2024 about potential misconduct involving a minor. Child Abuse Unit detectives later broadened the investigation to include alleged incidents at the school on the 6200 block of Rutland Drive.
Keegan Smith, Kim’s attorney in the criminal case, did not respond to an email seeking comment.
The civil lawsuit filed on the girl’s behalf alleges misconduct occurred on multiple occasions in 2023 and 2024 while the student was 10 and 11 years old. The complaint alleges Kim repeatedly took the girl out of class to his office, closed the blinds and door, and forced her to sit on his lap and engaged in other inappropriate conduct. The complaint alleges similar conduct involving other girls at the school.
It further alleges school staff failed to properly document, investigate or report concerns after students disclosed what happened.
Rai said the district does not comment on pending litigation but added, “creating and maintaining safe learning environments for students and staff is a top priority for the San Juan Unified School District.”
Rai said the reasons for Kim’s leave are confidential personnel matters.
“The duration of the leave depends on the resolution of matters outside of the district’s control,” Rai said. “Following that resolution, the district would proceed with any further appropriate action as permitted by state and federal law.”
Kim has been employed by the district since August 2020.
Kim remains in the Sacramento County Main Jail, according to sheriff’s records. His criminal trial is scheduled to begin April 13.
