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Teacher's Aide Arrested For Allegedly Molesting Mentally Challenged Student In School Stairwell

LAWNDALE (CBSLA.com) — A teacher's aide has been arrested on suspicion of molesting a mentally challenged student, authorities said.

Juan Carlos Gutierrez was arrested May 10 on three misdemeanor counts of annoying or molesting a child, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said.

The 60-year-old is accused of sexually abusing the 16-year-old student at Leuzinger High School, 4118 Rosecrans Avenue, on May 7, officials said.

"The suspect accompanied the victim, who is mentally challenged, into a stairwell at the school where he fondled her over the clothing. The entire incident was captured on surveillance video," Sgt. Dan Scott said.

The alleged abuse was reported to the school principal by students who say they witnessed inappropriate touching.

Gutierrez, who had been working at the high school for more than 20 years, remains in jail on $60,000 bail.

"We have never had an incident of this nature and I want to let you know that the board of education, myself and the entire administrative team take this very seriously," Superintendent Jose Fernandez said.

Anyone with information about the alleged incident or the suspect was asked to call the Special Victims Bureau at (877)710-LASD (5273).

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