A former high school music teacher has been sentenced to 6 years and 8 months in state prison for sexually assaulting a student from a private Berkeley school. Jason Hoopes, 50, was also required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.
Hoopes was arrested in May 2025 on charges of arranging to meet a minor with the intent to commit a sexual offense, oral copulation with a person under 18, and unlawful sexual intercourse with a person under 18. He had been teaching at Bayhill High School, which specializes in serving students with diagnosed learning disabilities.
The investigation began after concerns were raised by those close to the victim and their family regarding Hoopes' interactions with the student. The school initially made a mandated report about inappropriate text messages between Hoopes and a student before firing him.
District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson described the case as "a profound betrayal of trust" and emphasized that the well-being of the survivor is the office's top concern.
Background: Bayhill High School, where Hoopes taught, serves students in grades 7-12 with diagnosed learning disabilities. The school has a website detailing its specialized programs for students with various challenges such as dyslexia, ADHD/ADD, and executive functioning disorders.