Counselor accused of sexual assault at Carmichael school, Roseville church taken into custody
A Carmichael school counselor has been arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing two students, as well as another child at a church in Roseville, sheriff’s deputies announced Thursday.
Wonyoung Kim, 35, was taken into custody Wednesday in Roseville following several months of investigation into the alleged abuses, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release. He faces 10 felony counts of lewd acts on a child under the age of 14, two of which deputies say were by force.
Deputies were tipped off in September that Kim may have been involved in “an incident with a minor” while working as a youth group leader at Bayside Church in Roseville. Deputies did not elaborate on the incident or indicate at which Bayside site Kim had worked.
Child Abuse Unit detectives took over the case and learned that Kim may have assaulted two female students at Charles Peck Elementary School in Carmichael, where Kim had worked as a counselor. San Juan Unified School District officials confirmed Thursday that Kim had been employed at the school since August 2020 but was placed on administrative leave in September.
“School and district staff have assisted in law enforcement’s investigation and will continue to do so,” a district spokesperson said, who added that “all employees are subject to a thorough background check and we investigate all reports of inappropriate behavior.”
The district said it was communicating with families at the school to “encourage discussions with their students and inform them of supports available” in connection with news of the arrest. “The safety and well-being of our students is always our top priority,” the district said.
“Detectives also learned he was possibly employed at several schools in Southern California and a Sacramento Korean language and cultural school,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “Detectives are concerned there may be other unreported victims, as Kim is known to have had access to other minors through his position at work and in the community.”
Those with information about Kim are encouraged to call deputies at 916-874-5115. Tips may also be left anonymously on the Sheriff’s Office website or by calling deputies at 916-874-8477 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-4357. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000, deputies said.
Kim remains in custody without bail at the Sacramento Main Jail and is expected to be arraigned Friday afternoon.
This story was originally published February 27, 2025 at 8:29 AM.
