Thai Volunteer At Temple In America Arrested For Kidnapping And Molestation

[sriracha john]

Thai Volunteer at Temple Arrested for Molestation

Investigators Looking For More Victims

The summer program at Wat Thai Temple draws 140 children. They learn culture, language, the arts in an environment where they had felt safe.

The monks never suspected that trusted volunteer, Chalearmchai Napthaisong would ever harm a child.

"Personally he is good helper that I know. Everyday he helps the temple and the monks," says Songchia Promjat, a monk at Wat Thai Temple.

Forty-one-year-old Napthaisong is under arrest on child molestation charges. LAPD reports that a 7-year-old girl told her mother that he had locked her in a room and taken inappropriate pictures of her body.

Investigators on Wednesday continued interviewing youngsters searching for more alleged victims. Police have identified seven so far, as young as four years old.

"We as parents need to be more involved in trying to find out who is taking care of our kids," says Walter Calix, Neighborhood Parent.

Napthaisong practically lived here doing odd jobs, but he was known for his camera work .

"He'd volunteer to take a picture when we have a ceremony or something like that. When kids and parents wanted pictures taken he'd be the one to do it," says Saranya Sathatham, Temple Volunteer.

Records show Napthaisong lived at a North Hills address. Temple officials say he slept in a storage area, at meals at the temple and had no real job.

The 41 year-old Thai national is being held on $9 million and his immigration status is also under investigation.

Temple visitors meantime are trying to figure out how this could have happened. The children they say are always watched by adults.

Temple officials are planning an informational meeting for parents.

- KABC-TV Los Angeles

Video News:

http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=...&id=5552757

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Chalearmchai Nopthaisong

Thai Temple Employee Arrested

Los Angeles: A man employed as a janitor and photographer at a local temple has been arrested for sexual assault on 7 of the children who attend a summer school program there.

On July 31, 2007, at around 11:40 p.m., Chalearmchai Nopthaisong, 41, was arrested for charges of Kidnapping and Lewd Acts on a Child. Nopthaisong was employed as a janitor and photographer for the Thai Temple in North Hollywood.

Investigators learned of the assaults when one of the students, a 7-year-old female, told her mother that Nopthaisong had locked her in a room and taken inappropriate pictures of her body. The victim's mother alerted the Thai Temple Head Monk as well as the police.

During the course of the investigation it was discovered that there were six additional victims, ranging in age from 4 to 8. Investigators believe that there may be additional victims that have not yet been identified.

Nopthaisong is in custody and being held on 9 million dollars bail and immigration hold due to this arrest.

Anyone with information should contact Officer Alma Mercado at the Los Angeles Police Department, Juvenile Detectives, Sexually Exploited Child Unit at 213-485-2883. On weekends or during off-hours call the 24-hour toll free number at

1-877-529-3855.

- Los Angeles Police Department News Release

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Temple Volunteer Arrested for Molestation

Authorities were seeking other possible victims today of a man who was arrested for allegedly assaulting seven children attending a summer school program at the Thai Temple in North Hollywood.

Chalearmchai Nopthaisong, 41, was arrested July 31 and booked on suspicion of kidnapping and lewd acts on a child, the Los Angeles Police Department reported. He remains in custody on a no-bail immigration hold, police said.

Nopthaisong, who immigrated from Thailand, had worked as a janitor at the temple for six years, police said.

According to police, investigators learned of the assaults when one of the students -- a 7-year-old girl -- told her mother that Nopthaisong had "locked her in a room and taken inappropriate pictures of her body."

The woman alerted the Thai Temple head monk and police. During the course of the investigation, detectives discovered six other victims ranging in age from 4 to 8, police said.

Other possible victims were urged to call the LAPD.

- Associated Press