San Clemente : Teacher Pleads Innocent in Minor’s Delinquency
Pleas of not guilty to four misdemeanor counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor were entered Thursday during arraignment proceedings for a San Clemente High School drama teacher.
William C. Gekas Jr., 40, of Newport Beach was arrested in early January by district attorney’s investigators and charged with one count of keeping a 17-year-old female student out beyond the curfew of 11 p.m. In three other counts, he allegedly “interfered with the reasonable directions” of the girl’s family in keeping her out at night, according to Deputy Dist. Atty. Marvin A. Stern.
Gekas did not appear Thursday, but his pleas in South Orange County Municipal Court were entered by his attorney, Keith C. Monroe, before Judge Blair T. Barnette.
Barnette set a pretrial hearing for March 27 and jury trial for April 29.
A spokeswoman for the Capistrano Unified School District said that there has been “no change” in Gekas’ employment status at the school and that he has continued to conduct his classes.
The misdemeanor charges each carry maximum penalties of $500 or six months in jail or both.
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