A group of former students at Santa Rosa Junior College are circulating an online petition to try and gather stories about an employee after he allegedly exchanged sexually explicit messages with a minor and tried to meet her for sex.
Ari Poppers is the technical director of the school’s theater arts program. A video posted online shows what appears to be a conversation between Poppers and person named “Lexi” over Facebook messages.
While Lexi quickly tells Poppers that she is only 16 years old, he sends her graphic messages asking her about her fantasies and sexual experiences and tries to arrange to meet her in person for sex.
“Lexi” repeatedly tells him she is underage, but Poppers writes, “just keep telling me you’re 21.”
The video of the conversation was posted online by “Lexi,” who SRJC student newspaper The OakLeaf reports is actually a 25-year-old man. “Lexi” told the paper he has conducted several underage stings like this one in an effort to expose and curb predatory behavior.
Poppers has since been put on paid administrative leave and the Santa Rosa Police Department confirms that they are investigating the messages, though he has not been charged with any crimes.
When news of the messages broke, Poppers’ former student Jenna Rechsteiner tells KCBS Radio she had one thought.
“Oh my gosh, I wonder if it’s going to be Ari, because we all had issues with him… he was the worst part of my experience in the theater department.”
Rechsteiner says he once grabbed the necklace she was wearing and stared down her shirt. She reported the incident under Title IX, but nothing was done.
“It’s so frustrating, because the main reason I made my report was I feared that he would physically assault someone.”
She says he was known for making sexual comments to students and staring at their bodies.
“It was kind of an unspoken rule again, that women who took stagecraft would not take it alone.”
After the video circulated online and throughout the community, more former students have come forward with stories of his misconduct and harassment.
Now former students are circulating a survey to gather stories from other students and community members about Poppers.
“I want him to get fired. He should have been fired years ago,” said Rechsteiner. “I don’t think he deserves to have that job. He’s been protected for too long."
SRJC says they are conducting their own internal investigation in addition to the police department.
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