Modesto school staffer jailed in alleged sex crimes involving student
Authorities arrested a Gregori High School paraprofessional on Friday on multiple felony sex-crime allegations involving a student, according to the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office and Modesto City Schools.
Rian Johnston-Rand, who recently worked as a paraprofessional at Gregori High School, was booked into the Stanislaus County Jail on about $800,000 bail, sheriff’s Sgt. Michael Carranza told The Bee.
Carranza said Johnston-Rand faces felony charges including arranging to meet a minor for lewd purposes, contacting or communicating with a minor with intent to commit a sexual offense, unlawful sex with a minor, sending harmful matter to seduce a minor and two counts of oral copulation with a minor.
“The victim is believed to be a student from this school,” Carranza said.
Carranza said deputies contacted Johnston-Rand and arranged a meeting Friday afternoon at the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office, where she was arrested. He added that investigators are still determining whether there may be additional victims.
“The report was made directly to law enforcement,” Carranza said.
Modesto City Schools spokesperson Sharokina Shams confirmed to The Bee that the district sent a message Friday to families and staff at both Gregori High School and La Loma Junior High School because Johnston-Rand previously worked at both campuses.
Shams said Johnston-Rand is currently on administrative leave and no longer has access to district property.
Earlier Friday, a message sent by the district to families and staff acknowledged Johnston-Rand’s arrest and the ongoing criminal investigation.
“Rian Johnston-Rand, who has recently been working as a paraprofessional at Gregori, has been placed on leave pending an internal investigation and a criminal investigation by the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department,” the district message stated. “The Sheriff’s Department notified MCS late on Friday afternoon that they have placed Ms. Johnston-Rand under arrest and that she is accused of illicit acts with a minor.”
According to the district, Johnston-Rand began employment with Modesto City Schools in February 2022 after completing a criminal background check required by law. The district said she left in January 2024 before returning in August 2024.
The district said Johnston-Rand worked at both La Loma Junior High School and Gregori High School. District records also show she coached eighth-grade girls softball for one season during the 2022-23 school year.
“We understand that this news is concerning and will prompt questions about the circumstances that led to the arrest,” the district message stated. “We are grateful to the individuals who went to law enforcement officers to report the alleged activity and who provided an account of the activity to us as well.”
In a separate statement to The Bee, Shams said the district is cooperating with investigators while conducting its own review.
“The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority and we are working with law enforcement officers who are investigating this case,” Shams said. “In addition, we are conducting our own internal investigation and have placed the employee on administrative leave. We encourage anyone with further information to report that to the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department.”
The investigation remains ongoing.
