Defendant Sees Counts Cut

Three of nine sexual molestation counts against Jeffrey Atkinson, a former Newland Elementary School teacher and Huntington Beach resident, have been dropped by the prosecution, which has rested its case in his trial.

Atkinson now faces six counts of felony child molestation from the 1997-1998 school year.

Kenneth Schreiber, Atkinson’s attorney, asked Superior Court Judge Dennis Choate to dismiss the remaining counts, arguing lack of evidence. Choate refused.

In his opening statement, Schreiber called Atkinson “a good and decent man and a caring, loving teacher” who was loved by students and admired by parents.

The prosecution began its case by calling several girls from Atkinson’s third-grade class at Newland.

Some of the youngsters testified that Atkinson made them feel “uncomfortable” with back rubs he gave them throughout the school year.

Schreiber called the father of one of Atkinson’s former students as a defense witness.

The father told the jury that he felt the police had led his daughter to say that Atkinson touched her in “an inappropriate way. I felt the detective was leading my daughter to conclusions she didn’t believe in,” the father said.

The third-grader will not appear on the stand because her father would not let her testify.

The trial will proceed this week with defense testimony continuing.

Andrew Wainer can be reached at (714) 965-7172, Ext. 15.