Teacher Charged With Child Annoyance

A Birmingham High School science teacher was charged with child annoyance Wednesday after he was accused of making sexually suggestive comments toward two of his female students, including offering one of them an A grade in return for sex, authorities said.

Michael Todd Frieson, 23, of Gardena, faces a maximum of 2 1/2 years in county jail and $4,000 in fines if convicted on three counts including battery and child annoyance.

Deputy City Atty. Lynn Magnandonovan said the defendant made “explicit sexual comments to two female students in his science class.”

In the case of one victim, the offending conduct occurred over a period of several months, “in the classroom, with the other students present,” Magnandonovan said.

Frieson also allegedly made untoward remarks to another student over a shorter period of time, the assistant city attorney said. In addition Frieson is accused of grabbing the teenager on the arm, leaving a bruise, Magnandonovan said.

That student told Los Angeles Unified School District police that Frieson offered to improve her grade to an “A” in exchange for oral copulation, authorities said. Magnandonovan added that the victim who was grabbed had expressed concern about her safety to Birmingham High School officials.

Birmingham High administrators had no comment on the case, citing upcoming court proceedings. But the prosecutor said the incidents were a breach of trust.

“Obviously the prosecution is very concerned about the kind of conduct that occurred here,” Magnandonovan said. “A teacher is in a position of trust. Not only did this teacher violate that trust to his students, but clearly he has been a model for inappropriate behavior in the classroom.”

Attempts to reach the teacher Wednesday for comment were unsuccessful. He is scheduled to be arraigned Nov. 24 in Van Nuys Municipal Court.