Lakeside school district employee arrested on child sex abuse charges

A 55-year-old maintenance worker was arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a child under 10 years old

Jan. 27, 2026 at 1:39pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A maintenance worker with the Lakeside Union School District was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of child sexual abuse. The 55-year-old employee, Kent Cable, was jailed Sunday without bail on several charges, including allegations that the victim was 10 years old or younger. The school district has reassured families that the allegations do not involve any students and that they are taking every precaution to ensure student safety.

Why it matters

The arrest of a school district employee on child sex abuse charges is deeply concerning and raises questions about the district's vetting and supervision processes. It also highlights the need for robust child protection policies and procedures in schools to prevent such incidents and respond appropriately when allegations arise.

The details

According to sheriff's officials, the department learned on September 8 of allegations that a child had been sexually abused. Detectives with the Child Abuse Unit took over the investigation, leading to Cable's arrest on Sunday. The school district says the allegations do not involve any students, and they are working closely with law enforcement.

  • The allegations were first reported to authorities on September 8, 2025.
  • Cable was arrested on Sunday, January 26, 2026.
  • Cable is scheduled to be arraigned on Wednesday, January 29, 2026.

The players

Kent Cable

A 55-year-old maintenance worker with the Lakeside Union School District who was arrested on suspicion of child sexual abuse.

Scott Goergens

The superintendent of the Lakeside Union School District, who issued a statement reassuring families that the allegations do not involve any students and that the district is taking every precaution to ensure student safety.

Aloha Peters

A lieutenant with the San Diego County Sheriff's Department, who provided details about the investigation and Cable's arrest.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We would like to reassure our Lakeside families that the school and district have and will continue to take every precaution to ensure the safety of students and staff at our schools. Every family member deserves to know that the children are safe and treated with the utmost concern when they are at our Lakeside schools.”

— Scott Goergens, Superintendent, Lakeside Union School District (sandiegouniontribune.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Wednesday whether or not to allow Kent Cable to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the critical importance of thorough background checks, ongoing monitoring, and robust child protection policies in schools to prevent such incidents and ensure the safety of students. It also underscores the need for swift and transparent action by school districts when allegations of abuse arise.