Key Takeaways
- Travis Takeshi Shojinaga, 39, has been charged in Los Angeles County with possession of child sexual abuse material and four counts of child molestation involving students at Viewpoint School in Calabasas, CA.
- Authorities believe additional victims may exist.
- The allegations raise serious questions about institutional oversight and potential civil liability.
Criminal Charges and Ongoing Investigation
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has charged Travis Takeshi Shojinaga, 39, in case number 26VWCF00455 in the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
According to the LA County District Attorney’s Office, “He was arrested on campus on Feb. 25 after an 11-year-old student reported that he was secretly taking inappropriate photographs of female students.”
Authorities say that he “allegedly took secret and intimate photographs of at least four students.”
Shojinaga, who worked as a teacher at Viewpoint School for approximately ten years, faces:
- One felony count of possession of child sexual abuse material
- Four misdemeanor counts of child molestation
Shojinaga pleaded not guilty to the charges and is being held on a $1,000,000 bail.
If convicted, he faces up to seven years in state prison and lifetime registration as a sex offender. His preliminary hearing is set for March 12, 2026.
Authorities Believe There May Be More Victims
“The accusations in this case are disgusting and deliberate violations of children’s safety, dignity and rights. Our community’s schools are meant to be safe and protected environments for youths, said District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman.
LA County District Attorney’s Office stated that the case is under investigation and that additional victims may exist, urging those affected to come forward:
“Anyone who may have been a victim or has additional information regarding Travis Shojinaga is urged to contact Sergeant Joe Cerda at the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Special Victims Bureau at (562) 946-8216. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous can call LA Regional Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS ((800) 222-8477) or visit www.lacrimestoppers.org.”
Viewpoint School’s Response
According to Viewpoint School, when a “student reported a complaint to the school on Wednesday, February 25,” administrators and security launched an internal investigation and notified law enforcement. Following the arrest, Viewpoint School notified families that Shojinaga was no longer employed by the school. In its communication, the school stated that it was “still determining the exact time period of his inappropriate behavior.”
School leadership said it is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation and has retained an independent third party to prevent similar incidents in the future.
A Longstanding Position of Trust
Public records indicate that Shojinaga reportedly studied Kinesiology at California State University. According to Viewpoint, he had worked at the school since 2014.
Public reporting identifies him as an Innovation Space teacher. Since 2014, the Innovation Space has provided all Primary and Lower School students a hands-on environment focused on creativity, collaboration, critical thinking, and technology-based learning. Innovation Space classes “include creative design and production, working with tools, robotics, coding and other tech activities.” (Patch.com)
Patch reporting states that Shojinaga helped design interactive stations for “Makerfest, a three-day expo for elementary school students to show their parents what they learned in their tech and creative production classes.”
In a 2024 School Spotlight, Viewpoint described Shojinaga and another faculty leader’s contributions to the Innovation Space as “incredible.”
He was also publicly listed in connection with the school community as an alumni parent/friend and as a donor to the Viewpoint Fund, reflecting an affiliation that extended beyond his employment.
Teaching Credential Status
A search of publicly available records through the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing does not currently reflect an active California teaching credential under the name Travis Takeshi Shojinaga.
Under California law, teachers at private schools are not required to hold a state-issued credential. Many independent institutions hire educators based on subject-matter expertise, institutional standards, or advanced degrees rather than formal state licensure.
Institutional Accountability
Founded in 1961, Viewpoint School is widely regarded as a prestigious private TK–12 institution in Calabasas, California, with annual tuition reportedly ranging from approximately $45,000 for younger students to more than $54,000 for high school students.
The school publicly embraces values including “Love, Honor, Excellence, Imagination, Optimism,” and states that its mission is “to create exceptional readiness for extraordinary futures.” It promotes diversity, innovation, and the transformative power of education.
Families who enroll their children at an institution of this stature reasonably expect thorough hiring practices, meaningful supervision, and strong safety protections.
However, protection is not a premium feature tied to prestige or tuition. It is a legal and ethical responsibility. Whether a school is private, religious, or public, the obligation remains the same: children must be safeguarded from harm.
Criminal proceedings in this case will focus on whether Shojinaga violated the law.
Civil cases assess duty, knowledge, and foreseeability, asking whether institutions ignored warning signs, relied on incomplete screening, failed to act on complaints, or allowed unsafe access to continue despite available information.
A school’s reputation, price tag, or community standing does not alter its responsibility. When families entrust their children to an institution, that trust carries a corresponding obligation to protect them.
Speak With a Sexual Abuse Attorney
When child sexual abuse allegations arise within a school community, families often have questions about their legal rights.
The attorneys at Andreozzi + Foote are nationally recognized for representing survivors of sexual abuse and holding institutions accountable. Our firm has extensive experience litigating cases against schools and other youth-serving organizations across the country.
If you or your child may have been a victim of Travis Takeshi Shojinaga or another educator, you can contact our team for a free, confidential case evaluation. We are here to listen and to help you understand your options.
Contact us today.
📞 (866) 311-8640
📧 info@vca.law
Image sources: Travis Takeshi Shojinaga, courtesy of LA County District Attorney’s Office. Viewpoint School in Calabasas, California, courtesy of Viewpoint.
