A Long Beach teacher's aide pleaded not guilty Wednesday to more than a dozen criminal charges stemming from an alleged sexual relationship with a 17-year-old female student.
Anthony Pierre Sutton, 32, of Long Beach, is charged with four counts each of unlawful sexual intercourse, oral copulation of a person under 18 and contact with a minor for a sexual offense, along with one count of sexual exploitation of a child, according to Deputy District Attorney Jacqueline Mac.
Sutton, who worked as an aide at Beach Cities Learning Center in Long Beach, allegedly had sex with the girl in January and February, according to the prosecutor.
The crimes allegedly occurred off-campus, according to Ricardo Santiago of the District Attorney's Office.
Sutton was arrested Tuesday by Long Beach police and remains jailed.
If convicted as charged, he could face up to 11 years in state prison, according to the District Attorney's Office.
Long Beach police said Sutton began working at the learning center in January, and they asked anyone else who believes they may have been victimized to contact detectives.
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According to police, Sutton was taken into custody "after a minor came forward on (Monday) to the Long Beach Police Department to report multiple incidents of sexual assault in the cities of Long Beach and Signal Hill."
"Although none of the reported incidents occurred at the learning center, detectives believe there may be other victims,'' according to police.
Anyone who may have been victimized was urged to call police at (562) 435-6711 or (562) 570-7321. Anonymous tips may be submitted through LA Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS.
