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In This Issue...
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Watsonville Elementary Teacher Arrested for Child Molestation
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Watsonville Elementary Teacher Arrested for Child Molestation
By Michael Thomas
A fourth grade teacher at Landmark Elementary School was arrested Sept. 27 on suspicion of molesting an 11-year-old former student. Efrain Israel Ortiz, 44, of Gilroy, was immediately placed on leave by the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, which cooperated with Watsonville Police Department detectives investigating rumors reported by a concerned parent.
“The allegation is that he molested one of his former students and possibly a second student,” said Watsonville Captain Eddie Rodriguez. “The incidents did not happen on campus nor did they take place during any school activity.”
Ortiz is also the owner and instructor at Jabez Academy Martial Arts on East Lake Avenue in Watsonville. Rodriguez couldn’t say whether the victim was enrolled there.
The investigation began on Monday, Sept. 25, after a parent called Watsonville detectives to report a potential crime. The arrest came swiftly once detectives began talking with students at the school.
According to PVUSD Human Resources director Dorma Baker, “For a period of time it looked like there wasn’t substance to the investigation. But as they interviewed more students, it became clear.”
Once police made the arrest, school officials were quick to respond.
“When they said this was a real allegation, we put the teacher on leave,” Baker added.
Rodriguez said that interviews with other students led detectives to the victim and a potential second victim. However, police and school district officials say that the victim is not presently attending Landmark.
Detectives have not released details of the alleged crime, but the charges are for committing a “lewd or lascivious act” on a child under the age of 14 and for annoying or molesting a child under the age of 18.
Accused Teacher at Pajaro Since 2000
Ortiz began working for the district at Salsipuedes Elementary School in 2000. When Salsipuedes was integrated with Landmark, he moved there along with the rest of Salsipuedes’ teachers.
Principal Jennifer Wildman said Ortiz had never shown signs of performance problems or other trouble at the school.
“Even though it was a shock, people reacted really well. There are kids that are upset but for a lot of different reasons,” Wildman said. “We have really good staff and they’ve all pulled together to make sure the kids are okay.”
Captain Rodriguez said that Ortiz had no prior criminal history related to the current charges.
Baker said that a background check was completed and Ortiz was fingerprinted when he was hired by the district. He was a credentialed teacher, which also requires a background check. The credential was renewed in March of 2005.
As to whether the prior arrests would have been cause for dismissal, Baker said a review would have been done to determine the severity of the charges.
Baker and Wildman both expressed relief that the alleged offenses did not occur on campus. District officials have made counselors available to staff and students at Landmark for at least the next week. A letter has also been sent home to alert parents to the incident.
Ortiz posted $50,000 bail and was released from County Jail on Thursday, Sept. 28, the morning after his arrest.
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