A former Modesto junior high school staff member accused of sexually exploiting three students was ordered to stand trial Thursday after investigators testified that he admitted sending sexually explicit photographs and videos to minors.
Lawrence DeAndre Harris, 24, appeared in Department 6 of Stanislaus County Superior Court on Nov. 5, wearing an orange-and-white jail jumpsuit alongside his public defender, Christopher Rhee.
Judge Linda McFadden found sufficient evidence for the criminal case against Harris to proceed following testimony from two Modesto police investigators. The court held Harris to answer on six counts, including five felonies and a misdemeanor involving alleged misconduct toward minors.
His bail remained set at $550,000.
Harris, who worked as a paraprofessional at La Loma Junior High School and coached football and basketball at Downey High School, was arrested Jan. 20 following a police investigation into allegations involving three girls younger than 14. He pleaded not guilty to the original charges during his January arraignment.
Investigators describe alleged explicit messages
Modesto police Detective Jesus Salinas testified that Harris acknowledged sending sexually explicit photographs and videos to two students during an interview with investigators.
Salinas said Harris initially communicated with one girl through TikTok in November 2025 before their conversations moved to Snapchat.
The girl told investigators Harris initially sent her photographs of himself, including a shirtless image that appeared to have been taken at a gym.
The communications later became sexually explicit, according to Salinas, who testified that Harris sent the girl a photograph depicting his genitals obscured by an eggplant emoji and multiple videos of himself masturbating.
The girl told investigators that she repeatedly asked Harris to stop sending the videos, Salinas testified. She eventually began ignoring some of the messages or responding with expressions of disgust.
Salinas also testified that Harris asked the girl to send photographs of herself and requested to meet her in person.
During cross-examination, Rhee questioned Salinas about statements Harris made concerning his motivations.
Salinas confirmed that Harris denied acting out of sexual attraction to the girls and instead described struggling with an addiction to pornography.
Student reported receiving photograph
Modesto Police Officer Samartha Patel, who initially responded to the allegations on Jan. 19, testified that another 13-year-old student reported receiving a sexually explicit Snapchat photograph from Harris on Dec. 19, 2025.
The girl told investigators Harris had approached her at La Loma about tutoring before obtaining her Snapchat information.
She described receiving a photograph showing his genitals obscured by an eggplant emoji, followed by a message commenting on the shirt she had worn that day, Patel testified.
The girl blocked Harris after receiving the messages. She disclosed the incident to her mother two days later, according to testimony.
During cross-examination, Rhee established that the girl reported receiving one photograph, rather than multiple videos, and that Harris later approached her on Jan. 16 to apologize.
Allegations of inappropriate touching at school
Investigators also described allegations involving a third student who reported that Harris touched her while she was seated in a classroom at La Loma.
Patel testified that the girl described Harris placing his hands on her arms and putting his hand on her thigh as he crouched beside her desk.
The student said the contact made her uncomfortable, according to Patel.
Rhee challenged the allegation during the hearing, arguing that the prosecution had not established that Harris touched the girl for a sexual purpose.
The defense attorney noted that Harris had been assigned to assist the student in class and suggested that the contact could have been incidental to his duties.
Deputy District Attorney Vita Palazuelos disputed that explanation, arguing that touching a student’s thigh was unrelated to Harris’ responsibilities as an educational aide.
McFadden ultimately found sufficient evidence for the allegation to proceed, considering the testimony and the other conduct alleged in the case.
Prosecutors ask other potential victims to come forward
Following the hearing, Palazuelos encouraged anyone else who may have been victimized by Harris to contact the Modesto Police Department.
“If there are any other victims, please contact MPD as he worked with students at La Loma Junior High and coached at Downey High,” Palazuelos told The Bee.
Harris previously served as a junior varsity football assistant coach during the 2025 season and head coach of Downey High’s freshman boys basketball team for the 2025-26 season, according to Modesto City Schools officials.
Following his arrest in January, district officials said Harris had been removed from campus and no longer had access to school or district property.
Rhee declined to comment to The Bee following Thursday’s hearing.
Harris is scheduled to return to Stanislaus County Superior Court on Nov. 19 at 8:30 a.m. for arraignment on the information.
The allegations have not been proven at trial.
Source: www.modbee.com
