Los Angeles Teacher Aide Arrested For Sex Contact

Published February 14, 2012 4:27PM (EST)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Los Angeles high school teacher's aide was arrested on campus for investigation of sexual contact with a 15-year-old student, the FBI confirmed on Tuesday, making it the third molestation arrest in recent weeks in the nation's second-largest school district.

Fremont High School teacher's aide Alain Salas, 40, was booked for investigation of contact with a minor with intent to commit a sexual offense, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.

Salas was being held without bail at the downtown county jail and was expected to be charged by Los Angeles County prosecutors. A tentative court appearance was scheduled for Wednesday.

Superintendent John Deasy told KNX radio that the FBI informed the Los Angeles Unified School District that Salas was arrested during a child sex investigation. Deasy said he doesn't have any details.

Former Los Angeles third-grade teacher Mark Berndt was arrested on 23 felony counts that include allegations he fed his semen to Miramonte Elementary School students during "tasting games" in his classroom from 2005 to 2010.

A second Miramonte teacher, Martin Springer, has pleaded not guilty to committing three lewd acts on one girl in class in 2009.

Eimiller said the investigation involved a child exploitation task force that includes the FBI, the California Highway Patrol and the Los Angeles police and sheriff's departments.

"We've had a continuing investigation that Mr. Salas had contact with 15-year-old female at the school. The allegations are physical contact with a child at the school," Eimiller said. "It's sexual-related contact."

No other details were released.

Fremont High School is about two miles from Miramonte Elementary School.

A telephone message left for Deasy on Tuesday wasn't immediately returned.


By Salon Staff

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