A teacher's aide at an elementary school in North Hollywood pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he inappropriately touched six female students.
Lino Cabrera, 27, of San Fernando, is charged with one count of continuous sexual abuse and five counts of a lewd act on a child under 14, according to Deputy District Attorney Kelly Kraetsch. He could face up to 26 years in state prison if convicted.
Cabrera -- who worked in a computer lab at Oxnard Street Elementary School -- was ordered to remain jailed in lieu of $850,000 bail while awaiting his next court appearance June 19 at the Van Nuys courthouse.
Allegations of inappropriate behavior were made May 16 against Cabrera, and an investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department's Sexually Exploited Child Unit determined there were at least six victims, ages 10 and 11, according to an LAPD statement.
All of the alleged victims are Oxnard Street Elementary students, according to a Los Angeles Unified School District statement.
"The employee was removed from the Oxnard Street school in May, when the initial allegation was made, and parents were notified at that time,'' the statement says. "The safety and well-being of our students remains our top priority. While recognizing that everyone is innocent until proven guilty, these allegations are extremely upsetting, and we take them very seriously. We will 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 pertaining to the investigation was asked to call the LAPD's Sexually Exploited Child Unit at 213-486-0580.
