School Worker Convicted of Molesting His Stepdaughters

An Anaheim school maintenance worker has been convicted of molesting his stepchildren, the district attorney’s office announced Wednesday.

Walter Robert Reid, 41, was accused of committing the crimes while living in a mobile home on the Anaheim High School grounds, Deputy Dist. Atty. Matt Murphy said.

Police arrested Reid last year. The mobile home is part of a school district program to encourage employees to live at the schools and discourage burglars, Anaheim Police Sgt. Joe Vargas said.

A jury took about two hours to convict Reid late Tuesday. He faces a possible sentence of 30 years to life in prison, Murphy said.

“Hopefully, this will allow the two little girls to put this behind them and go on with their lives,” he said. The victims’ mother died three months ago, and they now live with their father.

The three-day proceedings came close to a mistrial after two jurors were dismissed and replaced by two alternates.

One juror had approached one of the victims, patted her on the head and complimented her. Another juror declined to deliberate on religious grounds, Murphy said.