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Riverside County Teacher Accused Of Kissing Student On Chest, Head

RIVERSIDE (CBS) — A Riverside County teacher will face criminal charges Thursday after allegedly kissing a female student on her chest and head.

Stephen James Wolford, 48, was charged with one count each of committing a lewd act on a child and annoying a child under 18 years old. Wolford, a teacher at Eleanor Roosevelt High School, was arrested in December after an investigation by Riverside County sheriff's detectives.

A student at Roosevelt told sheriff's Investigator Joel Pabelico that Wolford kissed her just above the left breast while speaking with her alone after class last May.

The girl also claimed that on four separate occasions, Wolford kissed her on the forehead.

The girl's identity was not released.

Pabelico said witnesses corroborated the allegations and related that "Wolford focused his attention (on the victim) and made comments to her and her friends," allegedly saying, "'You're my daughters. I'll take care of you.'"

The Lake Elsinore man remains free on a $25,000 bond.

Michael Lin, the Norco-Unified School District assistant superintendent of Human Resources, said Wolford is on mandatory unpaid leave from his teaching job. His status will not change until his case is adjudicated, according to Lin.

(©2010 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)

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