School Employee Investigated in Molestations, Theft

School officials and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said they are investigating charges that a school employee has molested several high school students and embezzled an undetermined amount of money from the school district.

School officials declined to identify the employee but said the person had been placed on administrative leave.

Fausto Capobianco, spokesman for the district, said that parents of several children had filed complaints with the district and with the Sheriff’s Department. He declined to say whether the alleged victims were boys or girls.

Capobianco said the sheriff and a private investigative firm hired by the district were still investigating the charges. District officials have concluded that “wrongdoing occurred,” he added.

Sheriff’s investigators confirmed the investigation.

School board member Basil Kimbrew held a news conference Wednesday to complain that authorities were not pursuing the investigation aggressively and that the state-run school administration has tried to cover up the matter. Kimbrew contends that alleged victims include at least five students, including boys and girls.

District officials, however, insist they are taking the matter very seriously.