Santee
A former substitute teacher has been ordered to stand trial on 17 counts of child molestation.
Eight girls between the ages of 8 and 11 testified in the preliminary hearing Monday of John Patrick Busker, 27, of La Mesa. Busker is charged with nine felony counts and eight misdemeanor counts.
He was a substitute teacher last fall at Chet F. Harritt Elementary School in Santee, where the crimes are alleged to have taken place. He has since been dismissed from the Santee School District.
San Diego Municipal Judge Allan Preckel dismissed three counts involving one girl who did not appear in court to testify.
Busker will return to Superior Court on Feb. 21 for a trial date and arraignment. He remains free on $75,000 bail posted Dec. 22, the day after his arrest.
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