After a two-week long investigation, Oakdale Police arrested a Cloverland Elementary School substitute teacher for lewd acts with a child and child molestation.

Oakdale Police Chief Lester Jenkins said that Bryan Dauvergne Thies, 48, of Modesto, was arrested Monday morning, Sept. 23, after he surrendered himself at the police station.

Jenkins said police were notified by Cloverland school staff on Sept. 5 regarding an allegation that Thies inappropriately touched five students at the school. Jenkins declined to give further details.

Oakdale Joint Unified School District officials confirmed Thies was a “standard” substiutute teacher for grades kindergarten through 12 and stated that he is no longer employed with the district.

A Cloverland School employee who asked not to be identified said Thies last taught sixth grade.

After his arrest, Thies was booked at Stanislaus County Jail for lewd acts with a child under 14 and annoying or molesting a child. He is being held on $100,000 bail

For the complete story, read the Sept 25 edition of The Leader