17-Year-Old Students Allegedly Involved : Ex-Teacher Pleads Innocent in Sex Case

A former Van Nuys magnet school teacher was arraigned Thursday on charges of statutory rape and oral copulation for allegedly having sex with two 17-year-old students, sometimes in his classroom during school lunch breaks.

Daniel B. Ramos, 34, pleaded not guilty to eight counts of statutory rape and six counts of oral copulation of a minor in his alleged sexual involvement with a 17-year-old Van Nuys girl, who was enrolled in one of his classes this year, and a 20-year-old former student. Ramos, a history and government teacher at the Van Nuys Alternative Magnet School, resigned from the school district last month, Deputy Dist. Atty. Stephen A. Baron said.

According to court documents, the incidents involving the 17-year-old girl allegedly occurred during March of this year in several locations, including Ramos’ home, his classroom, local parks and an apartment belonging to one of Ramos’ friends.

1982 Involvement Alleged

The 20-year-old woman reported that she was involved with Ramos during June and July of 1982 and again during November and December of the same year while she was a student at the school, Baron said.

Ramos briefly resigned his teaching post on April 22 when school officials became aware of his activities, Baron said. He returned to work two days later, however, and was assigned to an administrative post where he would have no contact with students, Baron said.

Ramos resigned from the school district permanently on May 10.

“He is a very eloquent speaker and a very good-looking man, and apparently his students would become enamored with him,” Baron said. “They would start chasing him after he would become their mentor.”

Investigators interviewed several other former students before filing charges, but most of them either refused to testify against Ramos in court or were involved in incidents for which the three-year statute of limitations had run out, Baron said.

Ramos, who is free on $7,500 bail, could be sentenced to a maximum of eight years in state prison if convicted on all charges, Baron said. He is scheduled to appear in Van Nuys Municipal Court on July 2 for a preliminary hearing.