VAN NUYS : 10th Victim Identified in Molestation Case
Los Angeles police said Monday that they have identified a 10th victim in a molestation case involving a Van Nuys elementary school teacher, who has been charged with abusing seven boys.
The newest victim is described as a 12-year-old boy who was a former student of Jeffrey Herbert Raker, 47, who taught at Hazeltine Avenue School as recently as last month, LAPD Officer Rosibel Ferrufino said.
So far, all of Raker’s alleged victims have been Latino boys, who were either students of Raker’s or members of a softball team he voluntarily coached after classes, Ferrufino said.
Most of the boys also come from low-income families, a factor that police allege Raker exploited by taking the youths to amusement parks and on camping trips, during which some of the acts occurred, the boys have told police.
Police said they will wait until they have completed more interviews of potential victims before they ask prosecutors to file additional charges against Raker, whose bail has been set at $750,000.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
