School counselor arrested for solicitation released from jail
COURTESY HPD
Kendrick Padilla
Police released a 39-year-old Kapolei High School counselor accused of soliciting an underage prostitute.
No charges were filed against Kendrick Padilla Thursday, but the case remains under investigation.
Police arrested Padilla, a school counselor since 2009, Wednesday afternoon at the school on suspicion of street solicitation of a prostitute, a petty misdemeanor offense.
A Department of Education spokesman said Padilla was placed on paid administrative leave Thursday and is not allowed on campus.
Elden Esmeralda, Kapolei’s principal, posted a letter on the school’s website saying the high school is cooperating with the police’s investigation into “an alleged teacher conduct for an off-campus incident.”
Esmeralda said he could not release details of the case because it is a “confidential personal matter.”
“The state Department of Education conducts detailed background checks on all applicants prior to employment,” the principal said.
9 responses to “School counselor arrested for solicitation released from jail”
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
In the morally bankrupt State of Hawaii, soliciting a MINOR for Prostitution is a Petty Misdemeanor.
DOE can’t do anything as the union has the last word?
If you followed the case more closely you would have noticed that the crime that he is alleged to have committed did not occur in any school but rather in Waikiki. He has not yet been charged much less convicted but he was placed on leave by the Department. There are conduct stipulations in the expectations for HIDOE employees. In this case, depending upon the outcome of the criminal case, I would expect personnel action to follow. (My best guess based on experience is that he will not work in Hawaii’s Public Schools again. My best guess, also based on experience, is that if he is convicted, the union will not strenuously oppose resignation or termination.)
Was this an HPD sting? Did this occur at his school? Was he on his personal time and away from his work place? A bachelor looking for company? Many 16 year olds, dress up and look much older. We have a bigger community issues with drugs in our schools. This is “manini” stuff!
(As I noted above, the incident for which he was arrested took place in Waikiki, not in the workplace. There are however conduct expectations of HIDOE employees and personnel action in this case, will most likely depend upon the outcome of the criminal proceedings. The individual has been placed on department directed leave pending.
Had this taken place in the school, there would be two separate investigations proceeding in parallel. There would be the criminal investigation pursued by the Police and the Prosecutor’s office and there would also be an investigation undertaken by HIDOE. I’ve seen cases where a suspect was acquitted in the criminal case but was still terminated as a result of the departmental investigation. The standard of proof is different in the two instances.)
He has not been proven guilty. Apparently no known misconduct on school property or time that is known or mentioned for all the years he has been with the DOE. Why are we hanging this guy when he was released from custody? The above comments are both unfair and sad. This is not the first time this newspaper and Channel Two news have crucified an innocent until proven guilty person. Why is his name being mentioned in the press?
yet another example to support decriminalization of consensual prostitution. Regulation of an ancient profession is much more effective than the pathetic approach we now employ.
Respectfully must disagree in cases involving the exploitation of minors by adults. In these cases, the minor child is a victim and the adults involved need to feel the full weight of the criminal justice system.
Yes, a minor cannot legally give consent, hence statutory rape is the appropriate charge in most jurisdictions even if a minor cooperates in a sex act. Put another way, for statutory rape, whether the child consents is immaterial.