A 29-year-old California man, employed as an aide for disabled students in multiple Glendale elementary schools, was arrested last Thursday for allegedly molesting at least six boys, as reported by KTLA.
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office announced charges against Pedro Antonio Tellez, also known as Pedro Antonio Hernandez Llamas, in connection with six victims. Tellez is facing eight counts of lewd acts on a child under 14, a felony.
Starting in March, Tellez worked as a part-time after-school coach in Glendale’s One Glendale After School Youth Sports Program and Summer Day Camp Program, as well as at John Muir Elementary School.
Allegedly, between 2018 and 2023, while working at various Glendale elementary schools, Tellez inappropriately touched the underage victims with a sexual intent, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón expressed his distress and concern in a press release, stating that it was heartbreaking and disturbing that someone entrusted to provide support and guidance while maintaining a safe and nurturing environment for children chose to violate that trust.
Gascón emphasized that such despicable acts would not be tolerated in the community.
Tellez was arraigned in the Glendale Branch of the LA County Superior Court last Thursday, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for October 19 in Los Angeles County Superior Court in Pasadena.
The District Attorney’s Office mentioned that more potential victims have come forward, and they are currently being interviewed by investigators from the Glendale Police Department.
Any other potential victims of Tellez are encouraged to contact the Glendale Police to speak with an assaults detective.
Sexual abuse is reportedly extremely common in the American school system.
In a report by neaToday, “there were 14,938 incidents of sexual violence in K–12 schools in 2017 – 2018 compared with 9,649 in 2015 – 2016, representing a 55 percent increase. These include incidents of rape or attempted rape and sexual assault.”
Moreover, in a post published by Carillo Firm, the liabilities of the school were laid down.
“Schools have a legal responsibility to properly monitor all of the children in their care and to enforce all rules and regulations necessary for their protection,” the firm said.
“Under California Government Code section 815.2, a public entity such as a school district can be liable for an act or omission of an employee of the public entity working within the scope of his or her employment. When a school fails to take proper action to protect students from teacher sexual abuse, this could form the basis of a negligence claim,” it added.
