Guilty! Robert Pimentel, Wilmington, California (arrested Jan 2013)

UK Daily Mail: School teacher accused of sexually abusing up to TWENTY children in Los Angeles (Jan 24 2013)

• Police say Robert Pimentel has been charged with 15 felonies
• Incidents took place at George De La Torre Jr. Elementary in Los Angeles
• Pimentel is also suspected of the sexual abuse

UK Daily Mail: California teacher 'sexually abused TWENTY elementary students and one adult' (Jan 24 2013)

• Robert Pimentel, 57, is facing eight counts of continual sexual abuse and seven counts of lewd acts upon a child
• The abuse took place at George De La Torre Jr. Elementary in Los Angeles
• Case comes after teacher at nearby school was arrested for allegedly forcing students to eat cookies with his semen on top
• Mark Berndt, 61, was arrested a year ago and pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of lewd conduct

 

The Daily Beast: Ex-L.A. Teacher Arrested for Sex Abuse(Jan 24 2013)

A former Los Angeles elementary-school teacher was arrested Wednesday for molesting 20 children, police said. Prosecutors filed 15 charges, including sexual abuse and lewd acts on a child, against Robert Pimentel, 57, who was a teacher at George de la Torre Jr. Elementary School in Wilmington. The charges stem from an investigation that begin in March and involve a dozen children, although detectives say Pimentel preyed on an additional eight girls.​

 

This is a lengthy comprehensive article, suggest reading the entire article ...

89.3 KPCC: UPDATE: New details about Los Angeles elementary teacher arrested in alleged molestation of 20 students (PDF) (Jan 24 2013)

The lawyer representing former Los Angeles Unified School District teacher Robert Pimentel — who is accused of sexually abusing 20 students — asserted his client's innocence following an arraignment hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court in Long Beach on Thursday at which Pimentel pleaded not guilty to all charges. The court set a hearing for Jan. 31 in advance of a preliminary hearing, which was set for Feb 7. Pimentel is being held in lieu of $12 million bail, which his lawyer said he would seek to reduce.​

The attached PDF's of his LAUSD employment history and the County Attorney's complaint are courtesy 89.3 KPCC:

 

LAUSD employment history (courtesy 89.3 KPCC):

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County Attorney's complaint (courtesy 89.3 KPCC):

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CBS Local Los Angeles: Wilmington Teacher Held On $12M Bail For Allegedly Molesting 15 Students (Jan 25 2013)

A Los Angeles Unified School District teacher arrested for the alleged sexual abuse of 15 children was arraigned Thursday afternoon. George De La Torre Jr. Elementary School teacher Robert Pimentel, 57, is facing eight counts of continuous sexual abuse and seven counts of lewd acts upon a child, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney.​

 

CBS News: Robert Pimentel, California teacher, arrested for allegedly molesting 20 children, police say (Jan 24 2013)

Robert Pimentel, 57, was arrested on suspicion of sexual abuse that allegedly took place at George De La Torre Jr. Elementary in the Wilmington area. He is charged with eight felony counts of continual sexual abuse and seven counts of lewd acts upon a child, Los Angeles Police Officer Officer Christopher No told The Associated Press. No said that in addition to the 15 felonies, misdemeanor charges are expected for the remaining incidents. Pimentel's bail has been set at $12 million. Police and school officials also said Pimentel is suspected of the sexual abuse of one adult, but did not say what role, if any, that person had at the school.​

 

L.A. Times: Principal faces probe over teacher held in abuse of 20 kids (Jan 24 2013)

A now-retired principal faces a criminal investigation after school officials said she twice failed to report accusations of sexual misconduct by a teacher who this week was arrested on suspicion of molesting 19 students at a Wilmington elementary school. In 2002 and 2008, the principal was told that the teacher, Robert Pimentel, 57, inappropriately touched a student. But the principal failed to tell law enforcement authorities, as required by law, said L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy. The Los Angeles Police Department began investigating Pimentel in March, when they learned of more recent allegations at George de la Torre Elementary School. LAPD Capt. Fabian Lizarraga said Thursday that detectives will launch an investigation into whether the principal, Irene Hinojosa, should face charges for failing to report alleged abuse. She could not be reached for comment Thursday.

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De la Torre school volunteer and parent Magdalena Gonzalez said Thursday that three years ago, a girl told her parents that Pimentel had playfully spanked students. Gonzalez also said she and other volunteers saw Pimentel pull on a student’s bra strap during a fifth-grade graduation ceremony. Gonzalez alleged that Hinojosa was dismissive of their complaints and that she allowed Pimentel to have students in his classroom during recess and lunch despite their misgivings. “We told her he was touching the girls,” Gonzalez said in Spanish.

 

L.A. Times: Ex-teacher 'absolutely innocent' of abuse, attorney says (Jan 24 2013)

Robert Pimentel, 57, appeared in a Long Beach courtroom Thursday afternoon and entered his not guilty plea. Pimentel is charged with seven counts of lewd and lascivious acts with children younger than 14 and with eight felony counts of continuous sexual abuse involving eight victims. Police suspect there may be at least 20 victims. Outside the courtroom, his attorney Richard Knickerbocker said Pimentel is "absolutely innocent." Pimentel's lawyer described the touching as appropriate, and that it falls under the district's no touching policy ...​

 

Raw Story: Los Angeles teacher arrested for sexually abusing ‘at least 20 children’ (Jan 24 2013)

A former Los Angeles Unified School District employee was arrested Wednesday on charges that he sexually abused “at least 20 children” and one adult co-worker, KTLA-TV reported Thursday morning. Police launched an investigation last year after two alleged victims came forward claiming that 57-year-old Robert Pimentel, who’s worked for the district for nearly 40 years, sexually touched them both over and under their clothing. The LAUSD superintendent said he removed the teacher as soon as the allegations were relayed to him, at which point Pimentel retired and began taking his pension before the district could fire him. The principle at the school, George De La Torre Jr. Elementary, was also removed.​

 

Inquisitr: California Teacher Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 19 Students (Jan 24 2013)

The 57-year-old teacher spent 35 years in the classroom. The investigation into the alleged 20 sexual assaults began in March. Pimentel had been teaching fourth-grade at George De La Torre Jr. Elementary School, Fox News reports. An 11-year-old student told My Fox LA that Robert Pimentel would try to “rub up” against her classmates. Several students told their parents about the alleged sexual assaults by the teacher, prompting police officers to look into the matter, WPTV notes.​

 

MSNBC: Ex-Teacher Arrested in School Sex Abuse Case (Jan 24 2013)

Robert Pimentel, 57, was arrested Wednesday and is being held on $12 million bail. The Newport Beach man faces eight counts of continuous sexual abuse and seven counts of lewd acts upon a child, according to a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department. "The investigation began when several girls told their parents that they had been inappropriately touched by a fourth-grade teacher during school at George De La Torre Jr. Elementary," the statement read. Pimentel left his position with the school during the investigation, which began March 15, 2012.​

 

NBC Los Angeles: Former LAUSD Teacher Pleads Not Guilty in School Sex Abuse Case: Case involves 12 children, according to police (Jan 24 2013)

Robert Pimentel, 57, of Newport Beach, pleaded not guilty to 15 counts of child sexual abuse of 12 victims, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office ... Prosecutors allege Pimentel abused 12 children under 14-years-old from September 2011 to March 2012. Some of the victims were abused multiple times, prosecutors said. "There was no touching of any private parts by anybody," said Pimentel's attorney, Richard Knickerbocker.​

 

KSEE 24: Former School Teacher Accused of Sexual Assault on 20 Kids; Bail Set at $12M (Jan 24 2013)

Robert Pimentel, 57, was arrested Wednesday and is being held on $12 million bail ... The Newport Beach, Calif., man faces eight counts of continuous sexual abuse and seven counts of lewd acts upon a child, according to a statement from the Los Angeles Police Department.​

 

Fox News: Los Angeles-area school teacher accused of sexually abusing up to 20 kids (Jan 24 2013)

A former Los Angeles elementary school teacher who taught for more than 35 years has been arrested on accusations he sexually abused 20 students and one adult. Police say Robert Pimentel has been charged with 15 felonies, and he is expected to be charged with misdemeanors for the remaining incidents at George De La Torre Jr. Elementary in the Wilmington area of Los Angeles ... An 11-year-old told MyFoxLA.com Pimentel would try to "rub up against" her classmates during school. The investigation into Pimentel was launched after several students reported the abuse to their parents.​

 

International Business Times: Teacher Arrested For Allegedly Molesting 20 Students In Los Angeles (Jan 24 2013)

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[Robert] Pimentel had left George De La Torre Jr. Elementary School around the same time police began their investigation once the allegations were brought up and reported to the police. Pimentel had been an employee of the LAUSD since 1974, and the case involved 20 victims, 19 children and one adult. Pimentel was charged with eight counts of continuous sexual abuse and seven counts of lewd acts upon a child. Pimentel was arrested on Wednesday, and his bail was set at $12 million. The Associated Press reports that Pimentel could also be charged with several misdemeanors stemming from the alleged molestation.​

 

International Business Times: Los Angeles Elementary School Teacher Arrested For Alleged Sexual Abuse Of 20 Students (Jan 24 2013)

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Robert Pimentel, 57, who taught at George de la Torre Jr. Elementary School in Wilmington, La., has been charged with eight counts of continuous sexual abuse and seven counts of lewd acts on a child. The charges cover the period between September 2011 and March 2012. Pimentel has been accused of touching the children inappropriately under and over their clothing, the Los Angeles Times reported, quoting court documents.​

 

Orange County Weekly: Robert Pimentel, Retired Teacher Living in Newport Beach, Accused of Abusing 20 Kids (Jan 24 2013)

Robert Pimentel, 57, was arrested Wednesday, charged by prosecutors with eight counts of continuous sexual abuse and seven counts of lewd acts on a child, and jailed in lieu of $12 million bail. After several girls told their parents the teacher had touched them inappropriately, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) launched an investigation, according to a spokesman. Pimentel retired as a fourth-grade teacher at George De La Torre Jr. Elementary School in Wilmington after the abuse probe began, according to police.​

 

Daily Pilot: Former L.A. teacher from Newport accused of molesting 20 children (Jan 24 2013)

Robert Pimentel, 57, of Newport Beach, who taught at George de la Torre Jr. Elementary School in Wilmington, was taken into custody by Los Angeles Police Department detectives, who had launched an investigation in March after several fourth-grade girls said they had been inappropriately touched. Prosecutors filed 15 charges against Pimentel involving a dozen of his alleged victims. The charges involve sexual abuse and lewd acts on a child and cover the period from September 2011 to March 2012, according to court records. Authorities said the teacher is suspected of inappropriately touching children under and over their clothing. Detectives suspect Pimentel victimized an additional eight children and the adult, LAPD Capt. Fabian Lizarraga told The Times.​