Teacher Sentenced to 21 Years in Prison for Molesting Kindergarten Students

     PHOENIX – Yesterday, Tadashi Mitchell Harvey, 30, of Gilbert, Ariz., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge David G. Campbell to 21 years in prison followed by lifetime supervised release for molesting two six-year-olds in the Gila River Indian Community.  Harvey had previously pleaded guilty to two counts of abusive sexual contact of a minor.  Upon release from prison, Harvey will be required to register as a sex offender.   

     Harvey’s crimes came to light earlier this year, when a kindergarten student disclosed the molestation.  The investigation ultimately identified a total of six alleged victims, all of whom were current or former students of Harvey.  Harvey admitted to sexually touching two minor victims, both of whom were members of the Gila River Indian Community.  At the time of the crimes, Harvey was an enrolled member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe.   

     “Our society places immense trust in teachers, and yesterday’s 21-year sentence appropriately punishes Harvey’s breach of that trust,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth A. Strange. “Protecting school children from predators is one of the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s most important responsibilities, and we will continue to prosecute such crimes to the fullest extent of the law.”

     The investigation in this case was conducted by the Gila River Police Department.  The prosecution was handled by Christine D. Keller and Dimitra H. Sampson, Assistant U.S. Attorneys, District of Arizona, Phoenix.

CASE NUMBER:          CR-18-00594-PHX-DGC

RELEASE NUMBER:    2018-154_Harvey

# # #

For more information on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/

Follow the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona, on Twitter @USAO_AZ for the latest news.