FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) – A former substitute teacher for Fresno Unified School District, 43-year-old Carlos Gonzalez, is now facing serious legal trouble after being arrested for attempting to meet a minor for sexual purposes. He was taken into custody Tuesday and charged with two felony counts.
The arrest followed a multi-week investigation led by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force in collaboration with Homeland Security. Authorities intercepted Gonzalez during an attempted meeting with what he believed to be a minor, arresting him at a public location.
At the time of his arrest, Gonzalez was found with a Fresno Unified work badge, indicating his role as a substitute teacher who had access to multiple campuses, including elementary schools.
“We know that he had access to many campuses, obviously thousands of kids,” said Tony Botti, spokesperson for the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators revealed that Gonzalez used the instant messaging app Kik to communicate with at least one victim, exploiting the app’s anonymity features to prey on children.
“These predators like it because they can remain somewhat anonymous… they can use a screen name,” Botti explained.
During the investigation, authorities learned of a second potential victim—a 14-year-old girl from Visalia—whom Gonzalez had allegedly planned to meet in person this week. Visalia Unified School District confirmed that Gonzalez was never employed by them, but it remains unclear whether either of the victims were his former students.
“These predators are casting lines every single day, hoping to get one on the hook,” Botti added. “We’ve had people drive long distances just for these meetups.”
Following the arrest, Fresno Unified School District issued a statement confirming Gonzalez was immediately removed from their system.
Gonzalez now faces charges in both Fresno and Visalia. He is scheduled to appear in court later this month and again in early June as investigations continue. Authorities urge parents to remain vigilant and monitor their children’s online activities.
