Part-time teacher accused of sexual contact with student

A 21-year-old part-time music teacher at Las Vegas High School and former musical wunderkind was arrested on charges of having a sexual relationship with a student, authorities said.

Thomas Gaff was charged with one count each of felony statutory sexual seduction and felony sexual conduct between a school employee and pupil, Las Vegas police said.

"This specific arrest is connected with a course of conduct between Mr. Gaff and a juvenile attending Las Vegas High School," Lt. John Bradshaw of the sexual assault section said Thursday.

Police did not release any information about the victim.

Gaff was profiled in the Review-Journal in 2001, when he was 15 and a ninth-grader at the school. At the time, Gaff was playing piano and cello and was writing compositions for the Henderson Civic Symphony, for which he also performed. Gaff said then his dreams included attending a reputable music institute and eventually writing movie scores.

This is the second time in two days that the public has learned a music teacher in the Clark County School District was arrested in connection with sexual offenses with students.

Don Kevin Smith was charged with two counts of lewdness with a minor under 14, police said Wednesday. Smith was a music teacher at Tate Elementary School.

The allegations involved inappropriate touching of a former student.

According to his arrest report, Smith admitted to investigators that he touched the breasts of three students. He apologized, the report stated.

Police have asked anyone with information on either Gaff or Smith to call the sexual abuse detail at 828-3421 or Crime Stoppers at 385-5555.