Teacher arrested in assault on girl, 8

Keith Paul

Friday, Aug. 30, 2002 | 11:04 a.m.

A Clark County elementary school teacher arrested on sexual assault charges told detectives he touched an 8-year-old girl because he feared she had been molested by her brother.

The girl told police she was at John Sinchak's home in the 7600 block of Sea Cliff Way near Buffalo Drive sometime over the summer, soon after she finished the second grade. She was at his house for a sleep-over with friends, including Sinchak's daughter.

She told Metro Police detectives that Sinchak twice reached into her underwear and touched her, according to a Metro Police arrest report obtained by the Sun today.

"John reported that with (the girl), he was very concerned about her home life. He stated that he thought she had been sexually abused by her 15-year-old brother, but could give no reasons for his concern," Detective Gina Chandler wrote in the report.

"I asked John if he was truly concerned that (the girl) was being sexually abused, why didn't he notify Child Protective Services or request that the school nurse or counselor speak with the girl. He replied, 'I don't know.' "

Sinchak, 34, was booked into the Clark County jail Wednesday night on three counts of sexual assault with a victim under the age of 14 after being interviewed by Metro Police sexual assault detectives.

After the girl told her mother that Sinchak had touched her, the mother confronted Sinchak. He at first denied the allegation, but then called her a few days later to talk to her about the allegation, the report stated.

"John went to (the woman's) house and told her he was concerned for (her daughter) and was afraid that she was being molested," the report stated. "He offered to take (the woman and her daughter) to Mesquite and provide them with their own hotel room. John stated that he could talk with (them) about the incident in Mesquite."

Sinchak told police he first denied the allegation to the girl's mother because "he had no sexual intent." He said he offered to take them to Mesquite so they could resolve the incident there, according to the report.

Sinchak is also accused of touching a second 8-year-old girl in his home. He told police he was checking the girl for a rash.

Sinchak's mother lives with him, and was a nurse. When asked by detectives why he didn't have his mother check either of the two girls he responded, "I don't know," according to the report.

Chandler wrote that Sinchak also couldn't explain how he could determine sexual abuse by touching a girl.

Sinchak has been teaching a combined fourth/fifth grade class at Garehime Elementary School since 1999. He previously worked for the school system during the 1994-95 school year, school district officials said.

Mary Stanley-Larsen, a district spokeswoman, would not speak specifically about Sinchak, but said a teacher who is charged with crimes like Sinchak would be suspended with pay until the administrators receive charging documents from the police. The teacher would then be sent a letter about the allegations and suspended without pay.