Man, 55, accused of lewd acts in Southern California girls' high school locker room

A 55-year-old Ventura County man out of jail after being arrested for alleged lewd acts inside a high school girls’ locker room and authorities believe there may be additional victims, officials announced Wednesday.  

The Jan. 13 incident unfolded at Newbury Park High School after the victim, only identified as a 15-year-old female student and resident of Thousand Oaks, reported that an unidentified man had been inside the girls’ locker room and performed an unspecified “lewd act in her presence,” a news release from the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office stated. 

The sheriff’s office’s East County Sexual Assault Unit launched at the school, located at 456 Reino Road in Newbury Park, along with school administrators.  

“Sheriff’s investigators were able to identify the suspect, James Arthur Silver,” authorities said. “Silver was later located and arrested for Lewd Conduct.” 

It is unclear how the 55-year-old was able to access the girls’ locker room, whether he might be employed by the school, has a child that attends the school or trespassed onto the campus.

Silver was booked into the Ventura County East Sheriff’s Jail and later released. He is due to appear in court in March, officials said.  

Due to the nature of this investigation, detectives believe there may be additional victims or witnesses and encourage anyone with information to contact the Sheriff’s East County Sexual Assault Unit Sergeant Ray Dominguez at 805-371-8392.  

Those wishing to remain anonymous can call the L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers Hotline at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at www.lacrimestoppers.org.