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Crime & Safety

Redondo Man Suspected in Molestation Case

Juan Gutierrez, who works as an instructional aide at Leuzinger High School, is accused of molesting a 16-year-old girl.

A 60-year-old instructional aide at Leuzinger High School in Lawndale was behind bars Monday on suspicion of molesting a mentally challenged 16-year-old girl.

Juan Carlos Gutierrez was charged Friday with three misdemeanor counts of child molesting. He was arrested the same day and remains jailed in lieu of $60,000 bail.

He was tentatively scheduled to appear in court in Torrance on Tuesday for arraignment.

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According sheriff's detectives, Gutierrez went into a stairwell at the school with the girl and fondled her over her clothing on Tuesday.

"The entire incident was captured on surveillance video," according to the sheriff's department.

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Centinela Valley Union High School District Superintendent Jose Fernandez called news of the arrest "a very emotional moment" for the district.

"We have never had an incident of this nature, and I want to let you know that the board of education and myself and the entire administrative team take this very seriously," Fernandez said. "There (are) many other things that we would like to share with you but unfortunately we cannot compromise the ongoing investigation that the sheriff is doing right now."

Anyone with more information about similar conduct by the suspect was urged to call the sheriff's Special Victims Bureau at 877-710-LASD.

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