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Simi Valley Teacher Arrested For Lewd Acts With A Student Under 14

SIMI VALLEY (CBSLA.com) — A Simi Valley elementary school teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a student under the age of 14 is being held on $2 million bail, according to the Simi Valley Police Department.

Malia Brooks, 32, pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges of lewd acts upon a child, oral copulation of a person under 14 years of age and three counts of genital penetration by a foreign object.

Brooks, a sixth grade teacher at Garden Grove Elementary School IMPACT Academy, at 2250 Tracy Avenue, turned herself into authorities Tuesday.

Malia Brooks
(Credit: Simi Valley Police Dept.)

Allegations of an inappropriate relationship between a female teacher and a male student first surfaced on Feb. 22, Simi Valley police said. Officials allege the relationship took place over a four-month period beginning in late 2012.

At the time, letters were sent home to parents alerting them that a police investigation was underway.

Brooks was not identified at the time because charges had not been filed. Her attorney, Ron Bamieh, said his client suffers from a mental illness.

Brooks was placed on leave while police investigated the charges and resigned from the district on June 5. She had been employed with the Simi Valley Unified School District since 2004.

"The school and District administration have fully cooperated with the Simi Valley Police investigation. Due to legal constraints regarding confidential personnel matters, the details of this investigation and the victims cannot be disclosed," Cary Dritz, Assistant Superintendent, said.

During the course of this investigation, there have been no indications that Malia Brooks had other victims. However, the Simi Valley Police Department is asking anyone with information to call the Detective Unit at (805) 583-6248.

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