Arraignment Postponed For Ex-School Administrator Accused Of Molesting Girl In YouTube Video

RIVERSIDE (CBSLA.com) — Arraignment was postponed Wednesday for a former school administrator accused of molesting two Riverside County girls, one of whom confronted the woman in a YouTube video.

Andrea Michelle Cardosa, 40, of Perris, made her first court appearance Wednesday but did not enter a plea. Because Cardosa's attorney asked for more time to consult with his client and review the charges, arraignment was rescheduled for March 7.

Cardosa's bail was kept at $5 million.

The investigation into Cardosa began after a 28-year-old woman posted a videotaped phone confrontation in which she accused Cardosa of sexually abusing her 16 years earlier, which Cardosa appeared to acknowledge. Since the video was posted, a second woman, now 18, came forward with similar allegations.

Several people in support of Cardosa, who most recently worked as the assistant principal at Alhambra High School, were present in the courtroom during her hearing.

"Godspeed baby girl," one supporter said loudly, prompting a deputy to order her outside.

Outside, supporters would only say, "The truth will be revealed."

According to court documents, Riverside police Detective Roberta Hopewell said Cardosa admitted to abusing the woman in the YouTube video. The woman in the video was a 12-year-old student at Chemawa Middle School in Riverside at the time of the crime, and Cardosa told police she believed the girl was 15 or 16.

The second victim told police Cardosa sexually abused her when she was 15 and attending Tomas Rivera Middle School in Perris.

Cardosa held teaching, coaching and administrative positions at both schools between 1997 and 2013, according to representatives from the Riverside Unified and Val Verde Unified school districts.

After Wednesday's hearing, Cardosa's attorney would not comment on the confession police received from his client.

"The only thing I can tell you today is this," attorney Randy Collins said. "We just got handed this information. We'll come back on March 7 and then we'll proceed with the arraignment."

The prosecution says they will seek to use the YouTube video as evidence.