Gregori High staffer pleads not guilty to alleged sex crimes involving student
A Gregori High School paraprofessional accused of multiple felony sex crimes involving a minor student pleaded not guilty Wednesday during her arraignment in Stanislaus County Superior Court.
Rian Cloe Johnston-Rand, 25, appeared in custody before Judge David Hood wearing an orange-and-white jail jumpsuit and shackles.
Deputy Public Defender Neil Zientek entered not guilty pleas on Johnston-Rand’s behalf to felony charges including contacting or communicating with a minor for the purpose of committing a sexual offense, sending harmful matter to a minor, arranging to meet a minor for lewd purposes, unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor and oral copulation with a minor.
Zientek also denied the prosecution’s alleged aggravating circumstances outlined in the criminal complaint.
During the hearing, Deputy District Attorney Sara Sousa requested Johnston-Rand’s bail be set at $420,000, which Hood approved. Sousa later told The Bee that the roughly $800,000 booking bail initially listed in jail records appeared to have been incorrectly calculated.
Sousa said prosecutors arrived at the $420,000 figure by applying standard bail amounts tied to the charges filed in the case.
Hood also issued a criminal protective order requiring Johnston-Rand to stay at least 100 yards away from the alleged victim and Gregori High School.
According to a criminal complaint filed Wednesday in Stanislaus County Superior Court, prosecutors allege Johnston-Rand communicated with and engaged in unlawful sexual conduct with a minor identified only as “John Doe” between September 2025 and May 2026.
Court records allege Johnston-Rand sent harmful matter to the minor electronically and arranged a meeting with the minor “for the purpose of engaging in lewd or lascivious behavior.”
Sousa confirmed to The Bee that prosecutors allege the communication occurred both electronically and in person.
The complaint further alleges Johnston-Rand engaged in unlawful sexual intercourse and oral copulation with the minor between February and May of this year.
Prosecutors also alleged in court filings that the victim was “particularly vulnerable” due to age or significant disability and that Johnston-Rand “took advantage of a position of trust or confidence.”
Sousa declined to confirm whether the alleged victim was a special-needs student, despite Johnston-Rand previously working with special-education students in Modesto City Schools.
Sousa said investigators are currently alleging one victim in the case, though the investigation remains ongoing.
The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office previously said the alleged victim is believed to be a student at Gregori High School.
Modesto City Schools has said Johnston-Rand has been placed on administrative leave and no longer has access to district property while the investigation continues.
Zientek declined to comment after the hearing. Johnston-Rand’s family also declined to comment.
