A 49-year-old teacher at Christian High School in El Cajon has been charged with 14 felony counts of sexual abuse after an investigation uncovered allegations that he abused a minor over several years.
Kevin Conover, 49, was arrested on Tuesday following an investigation into reports that he had abused a minor identified in court only as Jane Doe. The sheriff’s office says the alleged victim was a family member, and one of the charges indicates she was under the age of 10.
Conover pleaded not guilty Thursday to the 14 felony sex-crime counts, which include aggravated sexual assault of a child and lewd acts upon a child. He was booked into county jail without bail, and his defense team did not request bail during his brief arraignment.
Sheriff’s investigators were first alerted to the allegations in October, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation led to Conover’s arrest at the private school campus, which serves students from transitional kindergarten through 12th grade.
No new details were discussed in court, but a criminal complaint alleges the abuse occurred between 2015 and 2019, with the first instance of alleged abuse occurring when the victim was 7 years old. Conover faces up to 111 years to life in state prison if convicted on all counts.
The alleged victim, known only as Jane Doe in court documents, was identified as a family member by the sheriff. One charge specifically notes that the victim was under 10 years of age at the time of the alleged abuse.
Christian High School’s website has removed references to Conover, but a previous blog entry noted that he has taught Bible for more than 12 years. He also runs an online Bible apologetics curriculum titled “Educate For Life” and hosts a podcast of the same name.
The Educate For Life website states that Conover previously served as vice-principal for Christian High School and was most recently the Bible Department Head and senior Bible apologetics teacher.
Superintendent Bob Ruhlman said in a statement that Conover’s employment has been suspended and that investigators have stated the alleged conduct did not involve the school or any of its students.
Investigators also noted that the alleged conduct was not connected to the school’s operations or its student body. The school’s response has been to suspend Conover’s employment pending the outcome of the criminal proceedings.
Conover’s arrest was made at the school campus, a private institution that serves a wide range of grade levels. The arrest came after a prolonged investigation that began in October of the previous year.
During the brief arraignment, Conover’s defense attorneys did not argue for bail to be set, and he remains in county jail without bail. The arraignment took place on Thursday afternoon, shortly after his arrest.
The criminal complaint alleges that the abuse spanned several years, beginning when the victim was 7 and continuing until 2019. The charges include aggravated sexual assault of a child and lewd acts upon a child.
The case was brought to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office, which has stated that the alleged victim was a family member and that one charge indicates she was under 10. The investigation was triggered by reports in October.
The legal proceedings are ongoing, and Conover remains in custody. If convicted on all counts, he could receive a sentence of up to 111 years to life in state prison.
No new information was disclosed in court beyond the allegations already public. The case has not yet progressed beyond the arraignment stage.
The school’s official website has removed Conover’s name and references. The removal was confirmed by a former blog post that previously mentioned his teaching tenure.
Conover’s background includes more than 12 years teaching Bible at the school, as well as roles as vice-principal and senior Bible apologetics teacher. He also runs an online curriculum and podcast under the name “Educate For Life”.
Key Takeaways
- Kevin Conover, 49, pleaded not guilty to 14 felony sex-crime counts.
- Allegations involve abuse of a minor, identified as Jane Doe, spanning 2015-2019.
- Conover faces up to 111 years to life if convicted on all charges.
The case continues to unfold as investigators and prosecutors work through the details of the alleged abuse. The school has suspended Conover’s employment and stated that the alleged conduct did not involve the school or its students.
