Paradise Valley USD teacher commits suicide during arrest for child sex crimes
An employee in the Paradise Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) committed suicide during an arrest attempt. The 65-year-old male was charged with child sex crimes that reportedly spanned three years.
According to 12 News, Steven Charles Mitten was armed with a gun when police located him in his car on March 25, 2026. Mitten—who allegedly began sexually abusing the 16-year-old student at age 13—refused arresting officers’ commands and turned the firearm on himself. Mitten died from his injuries at a nearby hospital.
Mitten had been placed on administrative leave from his position as a teacher at Shadow Mountain High School.
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A similar incident occurred in 2023 when a PVUSD high school teacher and basketball coach was accused of inappropriate behavior toward a student.
Reports said Keiko Yoshimine confessed to authorities that she had abused the female victim. At the time, PVUSD Board Member Sandra Christensen criticized the district for failing to report the incident to parents and community members.
AZ Free News wrote:
“The Phoenix Police Department is investigating the late Keiko Yoshimine, a Paradise Valley High School chemistry teacher and Horizon High School basketball coach, on allegations of inappropriate conduct with a female high school student. Yoshimine allegedly committed suicide last month, a day after she had admitted to inappropriate behavior during police questioning; no arrest was made.”
Although Christensen “urged PVUSD leadership” to take action by publicizing the Yoshimine investigation, former PVUSD superintendent Troy Bales reportedly explained her that the district’s attorney told him to wait until law enforcement gave him direction to do so.
The district only came forward with information after news of Yoshimine’s death began spreading on social media.
Please send updates on Paradise Valley Unified School District to info@rpredu.org.
