VALLEY CENTRAL, Calif. (KERO) — A former Bakersfield teacher was arrested in San Diego County on charges of sending harmful matter to seduce minors and communicating with minors to commit a sexual offense.
According to the Bakersfield Police Department, 37-year-old Kyle Puette was formerly a 5th-grade teacher at Louise Sandrini Elementary School from 2013 to 2017.
Puett is alleged to have contacted juveniles via social media and engaged in graphic and inappropriate conversations via chat and video messaging with former students. Two juvenile teenage victims have been identified at this time.
Puette is currently employed as a 3rd and 5th-grade teacher at Valley Center Elementary School in San Diego County.
BPD is working closely with the Panama-Buena Vista School District as well as authorities in San Diego County. This investigation is being conducted in association with the Bakersfield Police Department’s membership in the Central Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
The Panama-Buena Vista School District issued the following statement:
The Panama-Buena Vista Union School District was notified by the Bakersfield Police Department that Kyle Puette, a former 5th grade teacher at Sandrini Elementary School, was arrested in San Diego County for allegedly sending harmful matter to seduce minors and communicating with minors through social media to commit a sexual offense.
Mr. Puette has not been employed by the District since the end of the 2016/17 academic year when he resigned to relocate outside of Bakersfield.
The District will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to assist in their ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the Bakersfield Police Department at (661) 327-7111.
Puette is being brought back to Kern County.
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is urged to contact the BPD at (661) 327-7111.
