BERKELEY — To most students at Bayhill High he was “Mr. Hoopes,” a band teacher in his late 40s.

But to one student, Jason Hoopes was “Red40,” a nickname saved in the teen’s phone where the two exchanged sexually explicit communications between meeting in person outside of school several times over 2025, according to police. When the child’s father reported finding the texts, Hoopes was charged with 23 felonies related to alleged sexual abuse or arranging lewd meetings with the student, who is referred to in court records only as “Doe.”

New court filings have detailed the alleged sexual abuse, from the violent sexual fantasies allegedly espoused by Hoopes to his suicide attempt after finding out he was under investigation. Now, Hoopes, 49, of El Cerrito, is in jail with bail set at $495,000 and a court date set in early October, records show.

Hoopes allegedly described sexual assault fantasies to the student, stating, “I want to sneak into your room in the night while you’re sleeping,” armed with a knife, according to court records. He described wanting to bind the student and “slice your night clothes off” before sexually abusing the 16-year-old “while you squirm and whimper and cry,” according to police.

In another of the texts, the student apologized for oversleeping and missing a preplanned meeting.

“It’s all ok. I love you. I might have to stalk you now tho (sic) and kidnap you off the street,” Hoopes allegedly replied. “I don’t want you to feel bad at all I just want to say how much I can’t wait to see you again.”

Hoopes worked at Bayhill High School, a private school for students in grades 7 to 12 with learning disabilities, since 2016. The charging records allege crimes that took place between at least March 23 and May 4 of this year. Police began investigating him after the alleged victim’s father tipped them off on May 19.

The school conducted an administrative investigation of Hoopes around the same time, and when Hoopes was placed on leave, he authored a suicide note confessing that he and the victim “crossed a line together.” The note was addressed to his significant other, who turned it over to police, according to court records.

“I was put on leave from the school on Monday. The police were there and confiscated my phone,” Hoopes allegedly wrote, before describing his suicide attempt. He added, “You are still the greatest partner I’ve ever had. I love you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me.”

Police allege that Hoopes and the victim met outside of school at least five times. Hoopes “admitted to engaging in sexual activity with the victim five times during the time he met the victim alone,” Berkeley police investigators said in court filings. He also allegedly told the teen not to tell anyone what was going on.

The principal of the high school also told police after hearing that Hoopes had targeted a second student for sexual abuse, but no charges have yet been filed involving that teen, court records show.

After his arrest last May, Hoopes was placed in a mental health hold before being jailed, court records show. He was fired from his job, and the school issued a statement saying his arrest was “shocking and devastating for our entire school community.”

“Healthy relationships between students and employees and the emotional and physical well-being of the children in our community are fundamental to what we stand for at Bayhill,” the statement says. “Conduct by faculty or other employees that violates our trust in them will not be tolerated.”

Hoopes has pleaded not guilty.