A 39-year-old supervisor for a Los Angeles Unified School District before- and after-school program was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault involving students at a Gardena elementary school.
Officers began their investigation after receiving a report that a staff member at Amestoy Elementary inappropriately touched a child. Police said more victims, all 10 or 11 years old and part of the program, were identified over the course of the investigation.
Daniel Ayon, of Los Angeles, was arrested Wednesday. He was charged with molesting four students and faces six felony counts: one count of oral copulation or sexual penetration with child 10 years or younger, two counts of continuous sexual abuse and three counts of lewd act upon a child under age 14.
The crimes occurred over the last year at the school, prosecutors said.
Ayon pleaded not guity to the charges. Jail records indicate he remains in custody on $3 million bail.
Police said Ayon had worked with the extended day program for two years. It was not immediately clear whether he has an attorney.
In a statement, the Los Angeles Unified School District said Ayon was a supervisor for Beyond the Bell, a before- and after-school program. He was removed from the school after the April allegations, the district said.
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"The safety and well-being of our students remain our top priority," the LAUSD statement continued. "While we understand there’s a presumption of innocence until proven guilty, any allegations of misconduct are extremely upsetting, and we take them very seriously. Los Angeles Unified is fully cooperating with the police investigation. We remain vigilant in protecting our students from those who would do them harm. We expect every person in Los Angeles Unified to fulfill their commitment to keep our students and schools safe."
Anyone with information about the case was asked to call investigators at 310-217-6180 or 310- 217-9654.
