A 61-year-old Los Angeles elementary school teacher was charged with molesting 23 children. According to an Associated Press news report, officials say that the man, who taught in the same school for more than 30 years, committed lewd acts against the students. Authorities obtained photographs showing children in blindfolds with their mouths taped and some with live cockroaches on their faces. The alleged victims include boys and girls between ages 7 and 10. Officials say the alleged incidents occurred between 2008 and 2010. The photographs were turned in to police by a film processor. The teacher was fired from his job when the investigation began. Officials say the man had no prior criminal record.
According to California Penal Code Section 288 (a): “Any person who willfully and lewdly commits any lewd or lascivious act…upon or with the body, or any part or member thereof, of a child who is under the age of 14 years, with the intent of arousing, appealing to, or gratifying the lust, passions, or sexual desires of that person or the child, is guilty of a felony and shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for three, six, or eight years.”
When a person in a position of authority, responsibility, or trust is accused of such serious crimes, the consequences can be extremely severe. One does not need to be convicted of the alleged crimes in order to suffer these consequences. Just the accusations alone can taint an individual’s reputation for a very long time. If convicted, individuals could face a number of consequences for the sex crime, including lengthy prison sentence, hefty fines, and mandatory registration as a sex offender.
The experienced Los Angeles sex crime defense attorneys at Sitkoff & Hanrahan know and understand the importance of aggressively fighting these serious charges. If you or a loved one has been accused of sex crimes involving children, please contact us at (866) 430-8383 to discuss your case.