Fontana Teacher, Student In Court For Alleged Hazing Scandal

FONTANA (CBS) — A Fontana high school teacher and student accused of hazing classmates in June were back in court Tuesday.

Emmanuel De La Rosa, 27, is accused of being the ring leader in the alleged incident at A.B. Miller High School.

The teacher pleaded not guilty July 12 to charges of child abuse, failure to report child abuse, false imprisonment, and attempted sexual penetration by a foreign object in the case of two victims.

18-year-old Fernando Salgado, De La Rosa's student, was charged with attempted sexual penetration by a foreign object and false imprisonment, but prosecutors dropped a sex charge against him after he agreed to plead guilty and testify against De La Rosa.

Lawyers said Salgado may alter his plea when he returns to court next month.

De La Rosa was ordered not to contact any students involved in the case.

Police said three students came forward in June alleging they were hazed by four classmates. The victims said De La Rosa knew of the incidents and in at least one instance, directed the suspects to assault them in response to a behavioral problem.

"The teacher was either familiar with what was going on or maybe could have actually directed the students on how to do that hazing," Sgt. Robert Morris of the Fontana Police Department said.

Specific details surrounding the incident, which police said occurred inside one of the classrooms in the last three weeks of summer school, haven't been released.

"There were physical assaults made. I can't tell you about the nature of those assaults because the investigation is ongoing," said Sgt. Robert Morris of the Fontana Police Department.

De La Rosa is due back in court September 9.