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

Discussion in 'Tomcats' started by TMP, Jan 24, 2013.

Page 3 of 4
  1. TMP

    TMP Himself

    LAist: 4th Grade Teacher Arrested On Suspicion of Sexually Assaulting 20 Kids, 1 Adult (Jan 24 2013)

    ​
    57-year-old Robert Pimentel of Newport Beach had worked for the LAUSD since 1974. In March, 2012, when an investigation was launched into his alleged suspicious behavior, he left his position as a fourth-grade teacher at George De La Torre Jr. Elementary School in Wilmington, according to City News Services. Leaving his post voluntarily means Pimentel is still eligible for his retirement benefits ... LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy believes there needs to be a change in state law so that when teachers are initially placed under investigation for sexual misconduct they can be swiftly terminated so that they cannot retire and collect benefits.​
     
    TMP, Jan 27, 2013
    #41
  2. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Pasadena Star News: Wilmington principal ignored previous abuse reports on teacher, LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy says (Jan 24 2013)

    The principal of the school where a fourth-grade teacher was arrested on suspicion of molesting 20 students took no action when similar allegations were leveled a decade earlier against the teacher at another school, LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy said Thursday. ​
    Robert Pimentel, 57, of Newport Beach was arrested Wednesday on charges of abuse that allegedly took place last year at George De La Torre Jr. Elementary in Wilmington ... When sex-abuse complaints against Pimentel surfaced in March 2012, Deasy said, he learned that the veteran educator had previously been accused of misconduct in 2002, while he was teaching at Dominguez Elementary in Carson. Pimentel was transferred to De La Torre in 2007, records show. Deasy said parents there complained the following year that he was improperly touching students. Irene Hinojosa had been Pimentel's principal at both Dominguez and De La Torre Elementary schools, according to district records. ​

    Daily Breeze: Wilmington principal ignored previous abuse reports on teacher, LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy says (Jan 24 2013)
     
    TMP, Jan 27, 2013
    #42
  3. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Pasadena Star News: Wilmington principal ignored previous abuse reports on teacher, LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy says (Jan 24 2013)

    The principal of the school where a fourth-grade teacher was arrested on suspicion of molesting 20 students took no action when similar allegations were leveled a decade earlier against the teacher at another school, LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy said Thursday. ​
    Robert Pimentel, 57, of Newport Beach was arrested Wednesday on charges of abuse that allegedly took place last year at George De La Torre Jr. Elementary in Wilmington ... When sex-abuse complaints against Pimentel surfaced in March 2012, Deasy said, he learned that the veteran educator had previously been accused of misconduct in 2002, while he was teaching at Dominguez Elementary in Carson. Pimentel was transferred to De La Torre in 2007, records show. Deasy said parents there complained the following year that he was improperly touching students. Irene Hinojosa had been Pimentel's principal at both Dominguez and De La Torre Elementary schools, according to district records. ​
     
    TMP, Jan 27, 2013
    #43
  4. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Huffington Post: Robert Pimentel Sex Abuse: Former George De La Torre Jr. Elementary School Teacher Allegedly Victimized 20 Students (Jan 24 2013)

    Just weeks after the arrest of a third-grade teacher accused of sexually abusing nearly two dozen students engulfed Los Angeles school officials in a scandal last year, word surfaced that children were being fondled by a fourth-grade teacher at another school. Having been jolted by the first case, Los Angeles Unified School District officials moved swiftly. The fourth-grade teacher, Robert Pimentel, was pulled from his classroom, the state teacher credentialing commission was notified, and parents were alerted. When it became clear that years-old allegations against Pimentel hadn't been thoroughly investigated, the principal at his school was also removed. While it took nearly a year to bring charges against Pimentel, the reaction by the school district shows how recent reforms put in place have reshaped how the school system deals with sexual abuse by teachers.​
     
    TMP, Jan 27, 2013
    #44
  5. TMP

    TMP Himself

    ABC Local KABC: Ex-Wilmington teacher pleads not guilty to sex abuse charges (Jan 24 2013)

    A former fourth-grade teacher in Wilmington has pleaded not guilty to eight felony counts of sexual abuse and seven counts of lewd acts on a child. Robert Pimentel, 57, made his first court appearance on Thursday afternoon ... Pimentel is being held on $12 million bail. He is due back in court Jan. 31 for a pretrial hearing.​
     
    TMP, Jan 27, 2013
    #45
  6. TMP

    TMP Himself

    ABC News: Third Los Angeles Teacher Charged with Child Sex Abuse (Jan 24 2013)

    A former grade school teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District has been charged with sexually abusing 20 students, allegations that follow closely on the heels of two other LAUSD teachers charged with molestation in 2012. Robert Pimentel, 57, who taught fourth grade in the district for 40 years, is accused of molesting children during two time periods, one child from 2002 to 2004, and 14 from September 2011 to March 2012. The investigation is ongoing. The charges against Pimentel include eight counts of "substantial sexual conduct" and seven counts of "lewd and lascivious acts" on children under 14 years of age, according to court documents. All of the charges are felonies. Police told ABC News affiliate KABC they expect more misdemeanor charges to be filed. ​
     
    TMP, Jan 27, 2013
    #46
  7. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Fox News Latino: LA Teacher Arrested, Accused of Abusing 20 Students (Jan 24 2013)

    After a 10-month investigation, a Los Angeles teacher was charged with eight felony counts of continual sexual abuse and seven counts of lewd acts upon a child on Wednesday. Robert Pimentel of Newport Beach is accused of abusing at least 20 students at George De La Torre Jr. Elementary in the Wilmington area, Officer Christopher No told The Associated Press. Pimentel, a fourth-grade teacher, had worked for nearly 40 years in the Los Angeles Unified School District. His arrest comes a year after another veteran teacher accused of molesting nearly two dozen students brought national attention to the district and the problem of classroom sex abuse.​
     
    TMP, Jan 27, 2013
    #47
  8. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Orange County Register: Newport Beach man accused of molesting 20 children while L.A. teacher (Jan 24 2013)

    Robert Pimentel was taken into custody Wednesday and was being held in lieu of $12 million bail. The Newport Beach resident has been charged with eight counts of continuous sexual abuse and seven counts of lewd acts on a child, all felonies. In addition, misdemeanor charges were expected. Police began looking into the allegations after several girls told their parents they had been touched by a fourth-grade teacher, LAPD officials said. Pimentel was reported to have retired before the arrest, collecting his pension and benefits. John Deasy, superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, said state laws should be changed so teachers suspected of sexual misconduct could be fired when they come under investigation and be kept from collecting benefits.​
     
    TMP, Jan 27, 2013
    #48
  9. TMP

    TMP Himself

    More articles from Jan 24 2013:
     
    TMP, Jan 27, 2013
    #49
  10. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Breitbart News: Teacher Accused of Molesting 20 Children Will Still Get Pension (Jan 24 2013)

    ​
    District officials prepared a “notice of termination” for Pimentel and the principal, according to Deasy. They had planned to present it to the Board of Education in April 2012, but both retired before the board meeting. Because they retired before the district took action, they will get their full pensions. ​
     
    TMP, Jan 27, 2013
    #50
  11. TMP

    TMP Himself

    San Diego Union Tribune: PRIOR ABUSE CLAIMS FOR CHARGED TEACHER: Word surfaced of other molest accusations after suspect in L.A. school case arrested (Jan 24 2013)

    In the wake of the first scandal, Los Angeles Unified School District officials moved swiftly. The fourth-grade teacher, Robert Pimentel, was pulled from his classroom, the state teacher credentialing commission was notified and parents were alerted. When it became clear that years-old allegations against Pimentel hadn’t been thoroughly investigated, the principal at his school was removed. While it took nearly a year to bring charges against Pimentel, the reaction by the school district shows how reforms put in place last year have reshaped policies over dealing with sexual abuse by teacher ... Pimentel had worked for the district since 1974. A previous report of sexual misconduct against him occurred four years ago at the school, and a complaint was made eight years ago at another elementary school, district Superintendent John Deasy said. ​
     
    TMP, Mar 3, 2013
    #51
  12. TMP

    TMP Himself

    KPCC: UPDATE: LA teacher in sex abuse scandal was also youth soccer referee for over 6 years (Jan 25 2013)

    ​
    KPCC has confirmed that Robert Pimentel, the teacher accused of sexually abusing 20 students, was a youth soccer coach with the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO). According to the AYSO, Pimentel was a registered volunteer referee with the group from August 2005 to March 2012. He was a soccer coach for one year.​
     
    TMP, Mar 3, 2013
    #52
  13. TMP

    TMP Himself

    L.A. Times: O.C. investigation of L.A. teacher in abuse case to be reopened (Jan 25 2013)

    ​
    An Orange County investigation into a former Los Angeles elementary school teacher is being reopened after the man was charged with molesting a dozen students at a Wilmington grade school. The earlier investigation into the relations between Robert Pimentel and four youths – one from Newport Beach, three from Long Beach – was dropped because of “insufficient evidence, lack of corroboration, problems with the availability of witnesses and other evidentiary issues," the Orange County district attorney’s office said. But in light of Pimentel’s arrest, the case will now be forwarded to the Los Angeles County district attorney ... [Susan Kang] Schroeder [chief of staff for the Orange County district attorney’s office] said Newport Beach detectives first submitted a case involving the four children in 2005 and that her office twice returned the case to police for further investigation. Ultimately, it was decided not to file charges, she said.​
     
    TMP, Mar 3, 2013
    #53
  14. TMP

    TMP Himself

    TMP, Mar 3, 2013
    #54
  15. TMP

    TMP Himself

    KTLA: Parents Say Principal Ignored Concerns About Wilmington Teacher – Wendy Burch Reports (Jan 29 2013)

    Meantime, an attorney representing victims in the molestation case at Miramonte Elementary says he has evidence that the school harbored yet another alleged child abuser within its ranks ... Maria Zacapa, a mother of four, volunteers at the school, and all four of her children have gone there. Zacapa says that three years ago, she notified the school’s principal, Irene Hinojosa, about questionable behavior she witnessed from Pimentel. But to her surprise, she says, Hinojosa did nothing, and instead protected Pimentel in many cases ... LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy said that internal district records indicate that in 2002 and 2008 the principal was told of alleged misconduct, but failed to alert authorities ... And now, attorney Bryan Claypool, who represents the alleged Miramonte victims, says he has evidence that the school protected another teacher accused of misconduct. According to Claypool, complaints were given for a period of up to 15 years. He was expected to give more details at a news conference on Tuesday.​
     
    TMP, Mar 3, 2013
    #55
  16. TMP

    TMP Himself

    KPCC: Former LAUSD teacher Pimentel accused of another lewd act (Jan 31 2013)

    The former Los Angeles schoolteacher accused of molesting a dozen girls faces an additional criminal charge stemming from an investigation eight years ago. The Los Angeles County District Attorney filed a new charge Thursday against Robert Pimentel, 57, alleging that he committed a lewd act on a child in Orange County in 2004 ... The criminal complaint states that from 2002 to 2004, Pimentel allegedly continuously sexually abused one of those girls. The new charge says that same girl was a victim of a lewd act Pimentel committed in Orange County in 2004. Newport Beach police investigated that allegation in 2004. It involved three other children but the Orange County District Attorney twice sent the case back to police for more evidence, and didn't file charges.​
     
    TMP, Mar 3, 2013
    #56
  17. TMP

    TMP Himself

    L.A. Times: Document indicates L.A. Unified knew of sexual misconduct claims (May 7 2013)

    ​
    School district officials knew of sexual misconduct allegations in 2009 against a teacher at a Wilmington school but failed to act, an attorney suing the Los Angeles Unified School District said Tuesday. The teacher, Robert Pimentel, 57, was arrested in January of this year. The accusations of inaction by L.A. Unified come from Luis Carrillo, who represents the families of three students from De La Torre Elementary School, as well as one former teacher, who also has accused Pimentel of improper conduct. Carrillo bases his claim on a document dated Oct. 12, 2009, that is labeled confidential. The document, which appears to be from the school district, is a report on a protest by parents outside the back gate of the school.​

    ​
    ...​

    ​
    Carrillo said the document came from sources outside of the school system. L.A. Unified, he added, has refused to provide documents relevant to the case.​

    Excerpt from the document quoted in the above L.A. Times article:

    Parents stated that there is a male teacher named Pimentel [Robert Pimentel] who has been known to touch female students inappropriately. The parents reported that he caresses the girls, gives them candy and photographs them without parent permission. Further, there was a parent who was too afraid to give the name of her niece who was inappropriately touched by this teacher. One parent stated that during culmination last year, [the teacher] rubbed a student's back several times, stroking her bra strap. The parents reported this behavior to the principal without any response. The parents stated that [Principal Irene Hinojosa] is friends with this teacher from their last school and this is why she is protecting him.​
     
    TMP, May 7, 2013
    #57
  18. TMP

    TMP Himself

    KTLA: School District Knew of Alleged Teacher Abuse 3 Years Before Arrest (May 7 2013)

    Los Angeles school district officials knew of sexual misconduct allegations in 2009 against a teacher at a Wilmington campus who was arrested more than three years later, the district’s top administrator confirmed Tuesday ... L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy said an internal investigation is ongoing into whether allegations were handled properly.​
     
    TMP, May 8, 2013
    #58
  19. TMP

    TMP Himself

    TMP, May 8, 2013
    #59
  20. TMP

    TMP Himself

    Daily Breeze: LAUSD, attorney dispute reporting of 2009 sex-abuse complaints (May 7 2013)

    ​
    Los Angeles Unified officials failed in 2009 to report sex-abuse allegations against a Wilmington elementary school teacher who is now charged with molesting a dozen girls, an attorney claimed Tuesday - statements that were immediately disputed by the district. During a press conference outside LAUSD headquarters, attorney Luis Carrillo said officials learned of alleged misconduct by teacher Robert Pimentel on Oct. 12, 2009, during a demonstration by angry parents outside of what is now De La Torre Elementary. He based his comments on a confidential internal memo written by Holly Priebe-Diaz, a social worker with the district's Office of Human Relations, Diversity and Equity. The memo recaps interviews with parents who told her that Pimentel had been fondling female students. Parents also said they'd reported their suspicions to the school's principal, but she was "protecting" the teacher.​
     
    TMP, May 8, 2013
    #60
Page 3 of 4