SALINAS >> Joshua Alfraro, 44, a former Salinas music teacher, was sentenced to 30 years in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation after pleading guilty to three felony charges of forcible lewd acts upon three children under the age of 14.

According to a press release from the Monterey County District Attorney’s Office, on May 25, 2024 the Salinas Police Department received a report that Alfaro had been sexually abusing three children who were members of his family. All of the children were under the age of 14 with the youngest child being under 8. None of the victims were Alfaro’s students.

Alfaro was the founder of the Alisal Community Arts Network, an East Salinas music program that worked with thousands of children across Salinas. The Alisal Union School District immediately suspended its contract with the program following Alfaro’s arrest.

The three victims disclosed everything they were aware of to investigators. After his arrest, Alfaro admitted to the crimes he was accused of, including crimes committed while one victim was asleep and unaware, according to the news release. Alfaro originally pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment last year. The maximum sentence for the charges was 100 years to life in prison.

The charges brought against Alfaro are three strikes pursuant to California’s Three Strikes Law. Alfaro will be required to register as a sex offender for the remainder of his life.