Cal Poly Instructor Arrested for Attempting to Contact Minor for Sex

Detectives say the 38-year-old previously taught at San Luis Obispo High School.

Feb. 21, 2026 at 3:16pm

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San Luis Obispo County sheriff detectives arrested a 38-year-old Cal Poly instructor, Kevin Coulombe, for attempting to contact a minor for sex. Coulombe had previously worked as a teacher at San Luis Obispo High School before joining the faculty at Cal Poly. Investigators are asking anyone with additional information related to this case to contact the Sheriff's Detective Division.

Why it matters

This arrest is part of the Sheriff's Office's ongoing efforts to protect vulnerable members of the community and target those who seek to exploit minors. As an instructor at a prominent university, Coulombe's alleged actions raise concerns about potential abuse of power and the need for thorough background checks and monitoring of educators.

The details

Detectives arrested Coulombe after serving a search warrant in San Luis Obispo as part of an investigation into the sexual exploitation of children. Coulombe is accused of attempting to contact a minor for sex, though the specific details of the case have not been released.

  • On February 21, 2026, San Luis Obispo County sheriff detectives arrested Kevin Coulombe.

The players

Kevin Coulombe

A 38-year-old instructor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo who previously taught at San Luis Obispo High School.

San Luis Obispo County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that conducted the investigation and made the arrest of Kevin Coulombe.

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What’s next

Investigators are asking anyone with additional information related to this investigation to contact the SLO County Sheriff's Detective Division.

The takeaway

This arrest highlights the critical need for thorough background checks and ongoing monitoring of educators to protect vulnerable students from potential abuse of power and exploitation.