California first-grade teacher charged with sexually assaulting 6 girls in the classroom

A California first-grade teacher has been charged with sexually assaulting six female students, according to authorities.

Martin Reyes Jr., 29, was arrested by detectives from the Los Angeles Police Department's Juvenile Division on Monday. Reyes, a teacher at Sunrise Elementary School in East Los Angeles, has been charged with 10 counts of lewd act on a child under the age of 14, according to the Los Angeles district attorney’s office. Reyes had his bail set at $1 million and is reportedly still in jail.

The family of a female student reportedly notified law enforcement on May 22 that their daughter had been sexually abused by a teacher at the Sunrise Elementary School in the Boyle Heights neighborhood. Following an investigation, police allegedly identified five more girls with similar allegations of child sex abuse.

A spokesperson for the Los Angeles Unified School District said in a statement, "In late May, the school community shared their concerns about this employee with the school. Upon receiving these concerns, we immediately contacted the Los Angeles Police Department and removed the employee off-campus pending the results of an investigation."

Reyes sexually abused six of his female students during a recess inside the classroom, according to the district attorney's office.

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón said, "Our educators are entrusted with creating a safe and nurturing environment where students can learn and grow without the fear of abuse or exploitation. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that schools are places where all students can thrive, free from the threat of sexual violence. I encourage any victim of childhood sexual assault to contact our Bureau of Victim Services to receive trauma-informed care."

Reyes is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing setting on Sept. 27 to determine if there is sufficient evidence to allow the case to proceed to trial.

The case is being investigated by the Los Angeles Police Department. The LAPD is reportedly investigating whether there were other victims.

The school district added, "The students and the greater school community are always encouraged to share any and all concerns with their school or with local authorities."

The employment status with the school was not immediately clear.

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