Teacher in Sex Assault Case Pleads Not Guilty

A former teacher at a Van Nuys elementary school pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he sexually assaulted four boys he taught at school or coached after school, Los Angeles police said.

During a brief appearance in Van Nuys Municipal Court, Jeffrey Herbert Raker, 47, who was a teacher at Hazeltine Avenue School until a week ago, pleaded not guilty to one count of continuous sexual abuse, two counts of oral copulation with one victim, and three counts of child molestation involving three other victims.

The alleged assaults--involving boys ages 8 to 11--began after Raker started teaching at Hazeltine in February, 1992, said Officer Rosibel Serrufino, who is investigating the case.

“The incidents occurred both at the school, at the suspect’s residence and on outings,” Serrufino said. “He would take the kids out on camping trips.”

Serrufino said Raker met his victims at school or while coaching baseball and soccer teams. A fifth victim--a 14-year-old boy--told police Tuesday that he had been assaulted by Raker as well. Serrufino said she believes more victims will step forward during the ongoing investigation.

Police began investigating Raker after one of his alleged victims reportedly spoke to a playground supervisor last week, said Pat Abney, principal at Hazeltine.

Abney filed a report with the Los Angeles Police Department, and Raker was reassigned to an administrative job two days later. He was arrested Friday by officers from the Los Angeles Police Department’s Sexually Exploited Child Unit.

Raker remains in custody in lieu of $500,000 bail.

Raker’s preliminary hearing was set for March 23. If convicted of the charges, he faces a maximum of 56 years in state prison.