Robert Pimentel Accused Of Past Abuse: LAUSD Intended To Fire Him But He Retired Instead

By GREG RISLING 01/25/13 12:35 PM ET EST
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LOS ANGELES — For decades, Robert Pimentel was a teacher in the Los Angeles Unified School District. During that time he raised a family, coached soccer and avoided problems with the law.

But police said during the last school year, Pimentel fondled some of his female students at George De La Torre Jr. Elementary School and even a co-worker that led to his arrest this week.

On Thursday, the 57-year-old appeared in court and entered a not guilty plea to 15 felony counts. His attorney maintained his client is innocent.

"If you look at the record, before this, Pimentel has had a pretty exemplary life," said his lawyer Richard Knickerbocker. "He has no arrest record, for anything."

It took nearly a year to bring charges against Pimentel and the investigation began just weeks after the arrest of another Los Angeles elementary school teacher, Mark Berndt, who has pleaded not guilty to 23 counts of lewd conduct involving students.

Following that scandal, the district mandated that parents be notified within 72 hours of a report of a suspected abuser, and that each case be reviewed by several human resources staffers to ensure it is reported to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

District officials vowed to investigate molestation claims and move quickly to remove suspected teachers from classrooms while investigations are ongoing which apparently occurred in Pimentel's case.

Police were contacted in March by the parents of five students who said Pimentel had touched their children inappropriately. District officials immediately removed him from campus and notifications were sent out.

More than 70 interviews were conducted during the police investigation, and 20 female students were found to have been victimized, Los Angeles police Capt. Fabian Lizarraga said. Another victim was a female teacher who complained that Pimentel had inappropriately touched her, police said.

The alleged abuse occurred in Pimentel's fourth-grade classroom during school hours and in some cases was witnessed by other students, Lizarraga said. The sexual abuse involved fondling over and underneath clothing, he said.

The Pimentel case may have been the first in the district that fell under the new policy, district Superintendent John Deasy said.

"It was very close to the first, if not the first," he said. "I don't know if it was a direct result (of the Miramonte case). There was a potentially serious problem there and we acted and did what we did."

Lizarraga added that although there was a spike in parent complaints after the Miramonte case, there wasn't any tie to the Pimentel case.

"These were some really alert parents knowing their kids and noticing subtle changes in their personalities," Lizarraga said.

The accusations against Pimentel span eight months, dating back to September 2011.

In a separate case, a jury in December ordered the district to pay a boy molested by an elementary school teacher $6.9 million – among the largest awards in the history of the school system. The jury found the district liable for the repeated molestation of the 10-year-old student in 2008 and 2009 by teacher Forrest Stobbe at Queen Anne Elementary School in the city's mid-Wilshire district.

A previous report of sexual misconduct against Pimentel occurred four years ago at the school, and another complaint was made eight years ago at another elementary school where both a female principal and Pimentel had worked, Deasy said.

"My determination was that she was previously mishandling other complaints," Deasy said. "My intent was to fire them."

The district never got the chance because both Pimentel and the principal retired after the allegations surfaced last March.

"You can't fire someone who doesn't work for you," Deasy said.

Police said they will review the principal's failure to report those previous allegations.

Investigators attempted to interview Pimentel last year but he declined.

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California Teacher Accused Of Sexually Assaulting 19 Students

Posted: January 24, 2013

Los Angeles, CA – An elementary school teacher is accused of sexually abusing 19 students and one adult. Robert Pimentel has been charged with 15 felonies and is expected to be charged with related misdemeanors.

The 57-year-old teacher spent 35 years in the classroom. The investigation into the alleged 20 sexual assaults began in March. Pimentel had been teaching fourth-grade at George De La Torre Jr. Elementary School, Fox News reports.

An 11-year-old student told My Fox LA that Robert Pimentel would try to “rub up” against her classmates. Several students told their parents about the alleged sexual assaults by the teacher, prompting police officers to look into the matter, WPTV notes.

School officials removed the Los Angeles teacher from the campus once the sex abuse allegations came to light. School district representative Daryl Strickland noted that both parents and the state educational agency had been informed of the ongoing investigation.

Robert Pimentel’s arrest is just one of many such incidents involving Los Angeles area teachers. A group of more than 225 students and parents are involved in a damages suit against Miramonte Elementary School. Teacher Mark Berndt was arrested on 23 counts of lewd conduct. Berndt is pleading not guilty to feeding his students semen-laced cookies. The alleged incident supposedly included the students being photographed during the “tasting game.”

Last month a jury ordered the Mid-Wilshire School District to pay a student $6.9 million in damages. The 10-year-old boy was reportedly molested multiple times by teacher Forrest Stobbe. The Queen Anne Elementary School teacher’s bail has been set at $12 million and he is awaiting an arraignment date.

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January 24, 2013 | 3:25 pm

A former Los Angeles teacher pleaded not guilty Thursday to charges that he sexually abused several of his students.

Robert Pimentel, 57, appeared in a Long Beach courtroom Thursday afternoon and entered his not guilty plea. Pimentel is charged with seven counts of lewd and lascivious acts with children younger than 14 and with eight felony counts of continuous sexual abuse involving eight victims. Police suspect there may be at least 20 victims.

Outside the courtroom, his attorney Richard Knickerbocker said Pimentel is "absolutely innocent."

Pimentel's lawyer described the touching as appropriate, and that it falls under the district's no touching policy.

In one instance, Pimentel hugged a girl and "gave her a kiss on the forehead," Knickerbocker said.

He likened the accusations to the McMartin Preschool abuse case, in which accusations and arrests were made, but no one was convicted.

He described the allegations of lewd acts as "no touching of any private parts. Outside patting across the back."
"Right now, we have accusations," Knickerbocker said. "That's all. We have no indication of probable cause."

Pimentel, 57, was arrested Wednesday by Los Angeles police detectives, who had launched an investigation in March after several fourth-grade girls said they had been inappropriately touched.

Los Angeles schools Supt. John Deasy acknowledged Thursday that allegations against Pimentel also arose in 2002 and 2008, but that the district has no record that the allegations went beyond the schools where Pimental worked at the time.

Both Pimentel and the school's principal, Irene Hinojosa, were immediately removed when the district found out about the allegations in March.

Deasy said he removed the principal because he was "dissatisfied" with how the situation was handled at the school.

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I'm not going to be very popular with what I'm going to say. I'm beginning to wonder if there is a witch hunt (so to speak) going on within LAUSD. I have no opinion on this case, yet. It seems to be the popular thing after that other horrible teacher was arrested (Mark B something) finally for among other things putting that horrible and vile substance on the crackers and feeding it to the children. In this day and age it seems like it would be extremely easy for kids to make up stories about a teacher they don't like and it is the thing now to immediately put that teacher on leave, investigate and usually arrest. What if this man is innocent? With the exception that he retired and will receive pay, his reputation will be ruined (if innocent) and more. Do not get me wrong, I do not have an opinion either way about if he did it or not. I'm just not trusting LAUSD blindly nor am I not trusting the kids/parents blindly. The below paragraph made by this man's lawyer I do agree with:

"He likened the accusations to the McMartin Preschool abuse case, in which accusations and arrests were made, but no one was convicted."

You have a right to your opinions for sure. You know the area and how LAPD can be.

January 25, 2013|By Jill Cowan

A Newport Beach child likely will be added to the list of a former Los Angeles teacher's alleged sexual abuse victims, the Orange County district attorney's office said Friday.

Robert Pimentel, a 57-year-old Newport Beach resident who taught in a Wilmington school, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of sexually abusing 20 children and an adult in Los Angeles County following an investigation started in March.

In 2005, the Newport Beach Police Department submitted a case involving Pimentel to the Orange County D.A., Chief of Staff Susan Kang Schroeder said. There were four alleged child victims — one from Newport Beach and three from Long Beach.

Schroeder said her office sent the case back to NBPD for further investigation twice between 2005 and 2007.

Ultimately, though, "insufficient evidence, lack of corroboration, problems with the availability of witnesses and other evidentiary issues" led the OCDA not to file charges, she said.

But now that other victims have emerged, Schroeder said, "the [Los Angeles district attorney's office] has requested for their office to handle all of our charges as well as their charges."

Transferring such cases between counties is not unusual, she said, and increases judicial economy. Furthermore, Schroeder added, victims don't have to testify more than once.

She said as far as she's aware, the LADA is only planning to file charges related to the Newport Beach victim.

LADA spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said the cases have not been charged, but it is not unusual to combine cases from Orange County to ease the prosecution of an individual accused of crimes in both counties.

Pimentel taught at George de la Torre Jr. Elementary School.

More details of his life outside the school district emerged Friday.

AYSO Volunteer

Pimentel volunteered for almost seven years in the local youth soccer community before he was suspended in March, American Youth Soccer Organization officials confirmed.

That's when Pimentel told AYSO Region 97 that he was under investigation by the Los Angeles Unified School District, though he didn't say what for.

Pimentel had worked as a registered volunteer coach and referee in the region since August 2005, according to an AYSO statement. Region 97 is a Newport-Mesa area division of the Torrance-based organization.

Pimentel coached boys and had a child who played soccer in AYSO, said spokesman George Passantino.

Although neither the district nor law enforcement contacted AYSO at the time, Pimentel's volunteer privileges were suspended immediately after the league learned of the investigation, as is standard any time allegations arise, he said.

"AYSO takes this very, very seriously, and when any type of a concern of this sort comes up, it is addressed," Passantino said. "It's not casting judgment, but we're making sure those kids are safe. You've got 500,000 kids. That's a big responsibility, and we're proud of the reputation we have in that arena."

In the statement, the league also said it is "prepared to work closely" with law enforcement, should that become necessary.

All AYSO volunteers, Passantino said, are subject to background checks and must complete the organization's "Safe Haven" training program.

No players or parents have reported abuse by Pimentel to AYSO, but the league is encouraging players' parents to contact authorities if they have any relevant information.

Neighbors on a quiet street off Irvine Avenue near the Costa Mesa city line said they were shocked to hear about Pimentel's arrest.

On a gray afternoon, as rain dripped from the toys and lawn decorations sitting outside stucco houses, some described Pimentel as friendly and outgoing.

One neighbor who declined to give his name said he's known the family for more than 20 years and is skeptical of the charges.

He said that Pimentel was a touchy-feely sort, but not creepy, and is a good father.

Erin Mosher, 33, was also surprised about the allegations, she said, as her 4-year-old son darted around her legs.

"I could see nothing like that from him," she said. "He's good with the kids. We've known him for years."

Pimentel, she recalled, seemed to be heavily involved with youth sports and would often joke around with her son about playing tee-ball when he got old enough.

She said she's not worried — "It is what it is."

"It's kind of unbelievable," she said. "But until there's evidence and stuff, you never know."

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"I could see nothing like that from him," she said. "He's good with the kids. We've known him for years." From above.
It would be very strange to find out someone you've known for a long time could be doing these types of things but there's one thing to remember, we just cannot see these things in others especially in a normal situation.
Unfortunately it sounds like the ball was dropped on this guy way back in 2005.
If he's guilty then the book needs to be thrown at him.

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Senior LAUSD officials knew of child abuse claims, lawyers say
March 21, 2013 | 1:52 pm

Senior LAUSD officials were allegedly aware of parent complaints in 2009 about a Wilmington teacher who was charged in January with abusing children over an extended period of time, say attorneys who represent alleged victims.

The latest allegations concern the case of Robert Pimentel, 57, who has been charged with molesting 12 students at De La Torre Elementary School. Pimentel has pleaded not guilty.

Los Angeles Unified School District officials had previously acknowledged Pimentel’s principal was aware of allegations in 2002 and 2008. The principal’s alleged failure to act was cited as reason for her removal by L.A. schools Supt. John Deasy. Both Pimental and Principal Irene L. Hinojosa resigned as the district was preparing to fire them.

The superintendent said in January that he did not know whether allegations against Pimental went higher than the principal.

On Thursday, attorneys alleged the allegations reached senior officials, namely Holly Priebe-Diaz, a veteran district mediator, and Linda Del Cueto, who oversees instructional programs in the San Fernando Valley. In 2009, she was one of eight top regional administrators across the nation’s second-largest school system.

According to accounts by the attorneys, Priebe-Diaz and Del Cueto were involved in a mediation to settle conflicts between parents and Hinojosa. As they worked through various issues, one parent asserted Pimentel had touched her daughter inappropriately and the principal had failed to follow up appropriately. Another parent who was present has corroborated that account, said attorney Luis Carrillo.
The witnesses also said either Priebe-Diaz or Del Cueto were taking notes as the allegation was made against Pimentel.

“It’s logical to assume those notes are turned into reports,” said Carrillo during a news conference outside the district’s downtown headquarters. Such reports should have gone “to the highest levels of the LAUSD.”

He added: “All the big shots in this building failed to protect the children and covered up child abuse when it occurred.”

Carrillo represents three cleints who have filed damage claims related to Pimental. Another attorney with clients, John Manly, independently echoed Carrillo’s claims.

District officials on Thursday confirmed that a mediation took place in 2009, but they had nothing to say about who was there or whether abuse allegations were made, citing an ongoing internal investigation.

Priebe-Diaz and Del Cueto could not be reached for comment.

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Robert Pimentel Sex Abuse Case Results In Demotion Of Two LAUSD Officials
Los Angeles Daily News  |  By Barbara Jones
Posted: 06/29/2013 8:00 am EDT  |  Updated: 07/01/2013 1:03 pm EDT

Two senior Los Angeles Unified administrators have been demoted and a principal has left the district following a two-month investigation into the handling of sex-abuse allegations against an elementary school teacher in Wilmington, Superintendent John Deasy said Saturday.

The inquiry focused on claims that parents had told district officials in 2009 that teacher Robert Pimentel was molesting their daughters at George De La Torre Elementary School, but that nothing was done. Deasy said he could not comment on what investigators had learned, but he did say that personnel changes had been made.

Linda Del Cueto, 53, the local superintendent and highest-ranking official in the San Fernando Valley, has been reassigned to an administrative post in the Office of Curriculum and Instruction, Deasy said. Del Cueto has worked for the district since 1982, and was honored in 2008 as an Outstanding Superintendent by the Association of California School Administrators.

Michael Romero, 50, a 25-year employee who was named last July to head the Adult Education Division, will be assigned to a yet-to-be-determined position at LAUSD's downtown headquarters, Deasy said.

Del Cueto and Romero, who each earned $171,239 annually under the previous jobs, will now "be eligible for a principal's salary," Deasy said.

According to the LAUSD salary table, the top yearly pay for a veteran principal is $134,290.

In addition, Valerie Moses, who had worked the last two years as principal of Los Angeles Elementary, has "separated from the district," said Deasy. He refused to say whether Moses had resigned, retired or been terminated. Moses, 57, had started at LAUSD in 1980 as a teacher's aide.


In 2009, Del Cueto was the local district superintendent overseeing De La Torre. Romero and Moses worked in her office, according to district records.

Deasy also said that David Kooper, another subject of the inquiry, has been reinstated as principal of Gulf Avenue Elementary. In 2009, Kooper was chief of staff to South Bay school board member Richard Vladovic.

Deasy put the four administrators on paid leave and opened the investigation in April, shortly after a lawsuit was filed by three alleged victims of Pimentel.

The suit claims parents had complained about the fourth-grade teacher as far back as 2002, but that district officials had failed to discipline him or notify authorities. It also alleges a district "cover-up" in the handling of the Pimentel case.

That claim is based on a confidential memo written by district social worker Holly Priebe-Diaz, recapping a meeting she had with De La Torre parents on Oct. 12, 2009. The parents told Priebe-Diaz they'd complained to Principal Irene Hinojosa that Pimentel had molested their daughters, but that she'd been "protecting" the teacher, according to the memo.

District officials have said that Priebe-Diaz reported parents' suspicions to police and county welfare workers. It's unclear what those agencies did with the information.

According to the suit, Del Cueto, Hinojosa and other administrators attended a meeting in October 2012, when parents repeated their complaints against Pimentel. The lawsuit claims district officials failed to notify authorities or take action against Pimentel, which allowed him to continue abusing young girls.

In March 2012, parents took their complaints against Pimentel to police, and he was removed from the classroom. Deasy has said he removed Hinojosa from her job after reviewing personnel files and determining that she'd failed to act on complaints against Pimentel in 2002 and 2008.

Pimentel and Hinojosa retired in April 2012, as Deasy was taking steps to fire them.

Pimentel, 57, was arrested in January and has pleaded not guilty to charges of molesting nine girls in 2011-12 and a female relative from 2002-04. He remains jailed on $14 million bail. ___

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