# RO: LA elementary school teacher charged with committing lewd acts with 23 boys & girls ages 7 to 10 **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 31, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331 "2012-01-31T19:36:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![toofs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@toofs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/toofs)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/81 "2012-02-03T05:13:08Z")
> [@VinylTurnip](#): > > Yeah, especially if you’re 10. Inches? ---
**Author:** ![saoirse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5daacb/32.png) [@saoirse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saoirse)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2012, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/82 "2012-02-03T17:27:28Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > ☹ Jesus, doesn’t anybody just fuck a little kid up the ass any more?! This is why poor parents should get vouchers to send their kids to Catholic schools. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2012, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/83 "2012-02-04T01:34:31Z")
I see headlines just now about a second arrest at the same school. Yikes! ---
**Author:** ![Belowjob2.0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Belowjob2.0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Belowjob2.0)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/84 "2012-02-05T16:22:18Z")
> [@saoirse](#): > > This is why poor parents should get vouchers to send their kids to Catholic schools. KABOOM! (My head just asploded.) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/85 "2012-02-08T16:17:49Z")
What _is_ it with this school? [Los Angeles _Times_](http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-miramonte-20120208,0,485100.story): > [@](#): > > In June 2009, the mother of a fourth-grader made a discovery that is now the latest incident under investigation at Miramonte Elementary School: a teacher’s aide was allegedly writing love letters to her 11-year-old son. > > One letter, meant as a short-term farewell note, included a passage that the mother found especially disturbing: “When I was writing this letter, I was crying. My heart was breaking into pieces,” wrote the teacher’s aide, who has been identified as Areceli Luisjuan. “Oh! I didn’t tell you that I like when you put your arm around my shoulder, and if I told you not to do that it’s because I don’t want to put you in trouble, but I like it…” > > “When you get close to me, even if you give me the chills I like that,” continued the letter, which is written in English. “Don’t tell nobody about this!” (The word “chills” is underlined.) ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/86 "2012-02-08T16:36:57Z")
No shit. What kind of teacher’s aide uses the phrase, “don’t tell nobody.” I mean, are there no teaching standards in California? ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/87 "2012-02-08T19:23:07Z")
> **[HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News](https://www.huffpost.com/?err_code=404&err_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.huffingtonpost.com%2F2012%2F02%2F08%2Fmiramonte-school-scandal-_n_1262713.html)** > > Read the latest headlines, news stories, and opinion from Politics, Entertainment, Life, Perspectives, and more. Another scandal: The linked story says that a 50-something year old “teacher’s aide” sent love letters to an 11 year old boy. That aide “no longer works for the district”. Also in the story: the entire school staff is being swapped out. Edit: OOps! Sorry. I got ninja’d. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/88 "2012-02-08T20:26:19Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > Also in the story: the entire school staff is being swapped out. If the majority of the staff was doing similar, it could explain why the students thought it was “normal”. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/89 "2012-02-08T20:26:36Z")
> [@mlees](#): > > [HuffPost - Breaking News, U.S. and World News | HuffPost](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/08/miramonte-school-scandal-_n_1262713.html) > > Another scandal: The linked story says that a 50-something year old “teacher’s aide” sent love letters to an 11 year old boy. That aide “no longer works for the district”. > > Also in the story: the entire school staff is being swapped out. > > Edit: OOps! Sorry. I got ninja’d. From that link, about the whole teaching staff being removed: > [@](#): > > This is not being very well received," Escutia said. “Some kids have established close relationships with their teachers.” … ---
**Author:** ![mlees](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba8739/32.png) [@mlees](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mlees)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2012, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/90 "2012-02-08T20:31:45Z")
> [@Filbert](#): > > From that link, about the whole teaching staff being removed: > > … oh, I have no doubt. As a kid, I liked some of my teachers, too. 🙂 I have no doubt that there are many innocent staff members caught up in this fiasco. I also have no doubt that the school district is in “panicked CYA mode”. Still, some parents (and probably not a majority) have lost confidence in the system, and the administration is reacting to that fear. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [February 16, 2012, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/91 "2012-02-16T06:38:33Z")
> [@florez](#): > > Yes, it is either laugh or run screaming down the street. _Au contraire_—you can always go for the 12-guage. ---
**Author:** ![PastTense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pasttense/32/14550_2.png) [@PastTense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PastTense)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/92 "2014-11-22T04:09:19Z")
> [@](#): > > The L.A. Unified School District has agreed to pay about $139 million to settle claims that a Miramonte Elementary School teacher abused his students, drawing to a close the lengthy case that led to changes in state law and district policies. > > It is believed to be the largest payout ever by a school system in a child abuse case. > **[L.A. Unified ends Miramonte sex abuse case with $139-million deal](https://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-me-1122-miramonte-settlement-20141122-story.html)** > > The L.A. This is too much money. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/93 "2014-11-22T06:47:10Z")
Sorry, it’s not really your call to make. ---
**Author:** ![Bruce\_Wayne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bruce\_Wayne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bruce_Wayne)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/94 "2014-11-22T15:23:02Z")
It wouldn’t feel like too much money if he was spooning sperm into your kid’s mouth ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/95 "2014-11-22T16:21:44Z")
I dunno, still seems expensive. I know people who’d do that for free. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/96 "2014-11-22T16:45:35Z")
6 million per kid, their lawyer will probably take half and the government half of the remaining so they’ll walk away with about 1.5 mil. I got to say I’d eat jizz on a cookie for 1.5 mil. Those kids are probably set for life. Which is probably how it should be. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/97 "2014-11-22T17:07:58Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > I know that film cameras have their advantages over digital, as I often advocate, but privacy is not one of them. What kind of moron would bring film of something like this to be processed by a photo lab who would see the images? > > > [@Valerieblaise](#): > > > > Yes, that’s the big problem here. Well spotted. From the teacher’s perspective, yes. Oh, lighten up. Besides, it is a good point: he gets away with this for how many years, then does a bozo thing like turning in film to be developed. It’s like when Son of Sam got caught on a parking ticket. > [@Miller](#): > > Or someone who forgot which role of film was in which film canister. Ah, I think we have a winner. > [@MsWhatsit](#): > > Can we get back to the thing about the cockroaches? I mean… I’ve been around the Internet a few times. Really. But I have yet to run into the “putting cockroaches on people’s faces” fetish. I’ve heard of bug fetishes before. Often enough for me to think that aside from non-sexual body parts (feet, hair, which are really common fetishes) bugs are fairly common. > [@toofs](#): > > Chocolate chip nut cookies. Because, sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t. Maybe that’s why boys _and_ girls. > [@Turek](#): > > Heaven help him if he’d eaten any peanuts in the last few days! That shit pisses school admins off. If his jizz was triggering peanut allergies, he would have been caught long before this: “Did you eat peanuts?” “No.” “Someone else’s sandwich at lunch?” “No.” “_Anything_ besides what you parents packed for your lunch and snack?” “Well…” ---
**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/98 "2014-11-22T18:27:40Z")
I cannot believe that this case was _settled_ for that amount. I have no idea what happened behind closed doors but I can’t conceive of a school board who would vote for that for the amount proposed. I’m on a school board. Our annual budget is around 80 million. If our reserves get below 3% we run the risk of the state taking over our district. A $139 million dollar settlement would blow through our budget, our reserves, and leave us in debt to the tune of around 40 million dollars. Is LA any different? Last year their budget was $13 billion and were looking at how to make up a deficit of $449 million! Most likely the settlement can only be taken from one subsection of their funds: operating expenses. That’s around 7 billion. Source: [http://laschoolboard.org/sites/default/files/LAUSD2013-14FinalBudget.pdf](http://laschoolboard.org/sites/default/files/LAUSD2013-14FinalBudget.pdf) So this district, already dealing with budgetary problems, has agreed to a settlement would slice 5% into its operating expenses for this next year. For the sake of the wellbeing of the district and the kids within it, I’d have rolled the dice with the jury. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/99 "2014-11-22T18:44:16Z")
> [@Enderw24](#): > > I cannot believe that this case was _settled_ for that amount. I have no idea what happened behind closed doors but I can’t conceive of a school board who would vote for that for the amount proposed. > > I’m on a school board. Our annual budget is around 80 million. If our reserves get below 3% we run the risk of the state taking over our district. A $139 million dollar settlement would blow through our budget, our reserves, and leave us in debt to the tune of around 40 million dollars. > > Is LA any different? Last year their budget was $13 billion and were looking at how to make up a deficit of $449 million! Most likely the settlement can only be taken from one subsection of their funds: operating expenses. That’s around 7 billion. > > Source: > [http://laschoolboard.org/sites/default/files/LAUSD2013-14FinalBudget.pdf](http://laschoolboard.org/sites/default/files/LAUSD2013-14FinalBudget.pdf) > > So this district, already dealing with budgetary problems, has agreed to a settlement would slice 5% into its operating expenses for this next year. > > For the sake of the wellbeing of the district and the kids within it, I’d have rolled the dice with the jury. You’re forgetting about insurance. ---
**Author:** ![Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/58956e/32.png) [@Emtar\_KronJonDerSohn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emtar_KronJonDerSohn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331/100 "2014-11-22T19:19:17Z")
> [@Oredigger77](#): > > 6 million per kid, their lawyer will probably take half and the government half of the remaining so they’ll walk away with about 1.5 mil. I got to say I’d eat jizz on a cookie for 1.5 mil. Those kids are probably set for life. Which is probably how it should be. It’s not $6mil, it’s less than $1mil per claimant, probably $500k after the contingency rate and expenses. > [@](#): > > The payouts will resolve legal claims from 69 Miramonte parents and 81 students who accused Berndt of lewd acts. L.A. Unified will pay the entire settlement — about 2% of its general fund budget — and a judge will determine how much each claim is worth. L.A. Unified already has paid about $30 million in claims to the families of 65 Miramonte students. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ro-la-elementary-school-teacher-charged-with-committing-lewd-acts-with-23-boys-girls-ages-7-to-10/611331.md?page=6)