Anaheim : Teacher Pleads Not Guilty to Molestation of Girl, 12

A junior high school teacher charged with sexually molesting a 12-year-old girl in a school’s storage room pleaded not guilty Monday.

Herbert Okamoto, 53, of Tustin, is “just shocked” at the five felony counts filed against him by a student at Vista Del Rio Junior High School, according to his attorney, Stephen Klarich.

Following his arraignment--attended by about 10 family members and friends “to give him moral support”--the 17-year teacher was scheduled for a pretrial hearing July 18, Klarich said.

Meanwhile, formal charges are pending against four students accused of setting ablaze the locker of the girl who filed the charges against the woodshop and math teacher, Anaheim Police Detective Ed Dougherty said.

The students were taken to Juvenile Hall following the arson of the girl’s locker June 7, Dougherty said. The group charged with arson, conspiracy and intimidating a witness include two girls from Vista Del Rio and two boys from Canyon High School, Dougherty said. Police do not yet know whether they will file charges against a fifth suspect, an 18-year-old man, he said.

Dougherty said the girl who accused Okamoto of molesting her in January and February has been the target of telephone calls “and a lot of harassment” from students who support the teacher.

Okamoto was arrested May 31 and released from City Jail after posting a $7,500 bond, reduced from $25,000 by Superior Court Judge James Cook. Okamoto was suspended by the Orange Unified School District prior to his arrest after school officials “heard rumors” of the assault, Dougherty said.