A janitor at a Chatsworth elementary school was arrested on suspicion of committing lewd acts on a child, according to authorities.
Paul Adame, 37, was released after posting $100,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in court Feb. 27, according to jail records.
On Feb. 5, the mother of a student at Germain Elementary School reported "inappropriate contact between a janitor employed at the school and her child,'' according to the LAPD.
"Due to the nature of this ongoing investigation and the need to protect the identity of the victim, no information is being released regarding the criminal behavior, or the name, age or gender of the child,'' an LAPD statement stated.
The molestation was alleged to have occurred Friday during school hours, police said.
The janitor was placed on administrative leave, according to authorities.
Dawn Smith, a member of the local PTA said her 9-year-old daughter helped Adame clean up tables. She now fears the worst.
"I need to ask her because she would help him during lunch time and clean up to make sure there wasn’t any inappropriate behavior," Smith said.
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Christine Zitkovich’s child went to the school last year. She said she ran into Adame sometimes.
"The guy did stick out in my opinion. My daughter was here last year. He looked weird," she said.
NBC4 News went to Adame’s Mission Hills home Monday. Someone opened a curtain but wouldn’t answer the door.
Adama has previous arrests for grand theft auto, burglary and other alleged offenses and has a misdemeanor conviction for driving a vehicle without the owner’s permission, police said.
The arrest comes the week after two teachers at Miramonte Elementary School near South LA were arrested for alleged lewd acts with students.
Mark Berndt, 61, was fired by the district last year shortly after the allegations arose. The school board was expected Tuesday to consider firing teacher Martin Springer, 49, who was arrested Friday.
"You become more panicked that’s where I am right now. I can’t even stop shaking," said Arnold Gary, parent.
Anyone with information on the case should call Devonshire detectives at 818-832-0609
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