Reno police arrest Damonte Ranch High School teacher for allegedly having sex with student

Marcella Corona | Reno Gazette-Journal

Reno police arrested a Damonte Ranch High School music teacher for allegedly having sexual relations with a 16-year-old student.

Louis Steptoe, 28, faces three counts of sexual conduct between a school employee and a pupil.

On June 15, detectives with the Reno Police Department’s Sex Crimes Unit received a report from Washoe County School Police officers of a possible inappropriate relationship between Steptoe and the student.

Investigators found that Steptoe had been having a personal relationship with a female student since March. They also learned that the relationship recently became sexual, Reno police said in a news release.

In a statement, the district said it was cooperating with police and would not comment further while the investigation is underway.

Steptoe met with detectives and was arrested Monday. He was being held without bail at the Washoe County jail.

Anyone with more information is asked to contact police at 775-657-4601, or Secret Witness at 775-322-4900, online at www.secretwitness.com or text the tip to 847411 (TIP 411) with the keyword “SW.”

Check with RGJ for more updates as they become available.

Education reporter Sam Gross contributed to this report. This story has been updated with a statement from the Washoe County School District