Who is Paul Varoff? Oak Ridge High ex-teacher arrested for alleged child sexual abuse

Former Oak Ridge High band teacher Paul Varoff was arrested in El Dorado County on 10 child sex abuse charges; authorities seek other potential victims.

Updated on: Jan 28, 2026, 01:23:51 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

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Paul Varoff, a former music teacher at Oak Ridge High School in the El Dorado Hills neighborhood of El Dorado County in California. He was arrested on Monday (January 6) morning for the alleged sexual abuse of a child, the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office announced Tuesday.

The photo of Paul Varoff's arrest (L) and the logo of Oak Ridge High School (El Dorado Hills, Ca.) (El Dorado County Sheriff's Office and @TROJANPRIDE80 on X)

The Sheriff's Office said that Varoff, who taught band at the Oak Ridge High School for over 30 years, the Sheirff's office said identifying him. He faces 10 charges related to the sexual abuse of a minor and is set to be arraigned in court on Wednesday.

The El Dorado Union High School District has acknowledged the arrest of their former teacher, saying that they were notified by authorities. However, they said that Vharoff, who had retired several years back, worked in the school district "in a limited capacity."

However, the District Attorney and the Sheriff's offices are seeking more information on any other potential victims. A contact number has been launched for potential victims to reach the authorities.

Also read: Tara Arnold: Was Houston lawyer in Arnold & Itkin plane that crashed in Bangor? What we know

Paul Varoff Charges

10 counts of charges were announced by the Sheriff's Office on Wednesday: five of them concerned oral copulation with a minor, and the other five concerned sexual intercourse with a minor. He has been booked into the El Dorado County Jail without bail and will be arraigned at 1 p.m. on January 28.

Acknowledging the arrest, the school district said: "The safety of our students is our highest priority. We are taking these allegations seriously and are working closely with the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office."

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

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