Salinas teacher suspected of child porn production

Aldrin Jayson Nicolas

WATSONVILLE — A Salinas teacher was arrested Tuesday after he turned himself in to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office once he learned he was being investigated for production of child pornography.

Deputy April Skalland said Aldrin Jayson Nicolas, also known as A.J. Nicolas, 26, turned himself in about 3 p.m. in Santa Cruz.

Detectives were investigating an incident that occurred March 16-18 at the Pajaro Dunes vacation rentals in Watsonville.

Nicolas was reportedly using a “spy pen,” a pen-size video camera, to record several teenage girls, ages 13-17, undressing in the vacation rental bathroom, Skalland said.

Nicolas was working as a teacher for the Vivace Youth Group in San Jose when the youth group went on a weekend trip to Pajaro Dunes last month.

While the group was visiting Pajaro Dunes, the teens found the spy pen in the girl’s vacation rental bathroom, Skalland said. After further investigation, detectives found that Nicolas had allegedly placed the camera in the bathroom to produce videos of undressing female juveniles.

Vivace Youth Group has suspended Nicolas from his employment, Skalland said.

Salinas High School, where Nicolas also worked as a choir director, also placed him on administrative leave.

“There is no evidence at this time that there are any victims at the high school,” Skalland said.

Nicolas also has a home in Hayward.





Share on Facebook