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Fullerton Math Teacher Pleads Not Guilty To Sexually Assaulting 3 Male Students

FULLERTON (CBSLA.com) — A 28-year-old math teacher pleaded not guilty Wednesday to sexually assaulting three male students at a Fullerton junior high school, prosecutors said.

Melissa Nicole Lindgren, of La Mirada, is charged with five counts of lewd acts on a child, two counts of lewd acts on a child younger than 14, three counts of distributing pornography to a minor, which are all felony charges, according to Deputy District Attorney Cynthia Nichols.

Lindgren met the three boys, 13 to 15 years old, at Nicholas Junior High School, Nichols said. Lindgren allegedly sent sexually charged text and phone messages to the boys during the 2012-13 school year and the next, according to Nichols.

Lindgren - who allegedly molested two boys on campus and a third victim off-campus in a car - faces a sentencing enhancement for lewd acts on multiple children, according to Nichols.

She could face up to 16 years and four months in prison if she is convicted at trial.

(©2014 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.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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