PALMDALE – A 28-year-old substitute teacher pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that he sodomized a special needs Highland High School student, authorities said.
Aaron Joseph Alvidrez of Lancaster was arraigned on three counts of sodomy of a person under 18, two counts of oral copulation of a person under 18 and one count each of distributing or showing pornography to a minor and meeting a minor for lewd purposes, according to deputy district attorney Seth Carmack.
The victim is a 17-year-old male student, who was enrolled in a special needs program at Highland High School, according to Sergeant Brian Hudson of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau.
Alvidrez, a long-term substitute teacher at the Palmdale school, allegedly assaulted the boy in a classroom and inside his vehicle in September and October, the prosecutor said.
Detectives began investigating Alvidrez Oct. 20, after the victim told school officials that a teacher at the school had sexually assaulted him on several occasions, Hudson said.
Alvidrez was arrested at his Lancaster home Oct. 21 and jailed in lieu of $325,000 bail. He posted bail three days later and has been free on bail ever since.
If convicted as charged, Alvidrez faces a possible maximum sentence of eight years in state prison.
A preliminary court hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 2. At the conclusion of that hearing, a judge will decide if there is enough evidence to take the case to trial.
The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sherriff’s Department, Lancaster Station.
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Previous related story: Local substitute teacher accused of sexually assaulting special needs student
Hhsalumni says
Let’s also keep in mind that at hhs a special needs student is also someone with adhd or add. Not just mental retardation
denelle kaufman says
Most importantly, WHY is he out on bail ???
WT...? says
Because we live in the United States of America and not North Korea.
callitasitis says
Like I said the story does not story right. Sexual predators have a preferred target group. Some like small children up to but before puberty. The person is consider by the mental health doctor a very high risk If they target males pre puberty ages. True Sexual predators PRETEND to be youth coaches, teachers, priests / pastors and counselors. You should attend a Gay pride day in LA then come back and tell me this teacher behavior has nothing to do with LGBT. If the Special Ed student had been much younger than the age of 17 years I would say the victim DID NOT contribute to their victimization.
Noe says
@callitasitis, you sound like a pediphile… Or you think you know more than anyone else, no you’re just wrong from the git.
I can tell you’ve never studied behavior analysis, just by reading your post. What has the LGBT group taken from you?? Answer; NOTHING!
Stop with the hate please! There is more than enough of that going around, do you really have to go that route?!?
Wow, for a moment I thought you were a decent human, I stand corrected. Thanks for clearing my mistake.
What happened to this young man is sickening and what is worse?, someone like you that comes along and blames the victim.
Perhaps, you are ill informed, let me clear this up for you. The student (victim) was a special needs child. Is that clear enough for you?!?
Stop being a troll and please for the love of God, get help. Seeing how you post, I have a feeling you’ll come back and say ‘I’m gay’, meaning me.
Wrong again, very happily married and just for you, I am straight.
You can take that to the Bank, wait I think you are morally bankrupt, so that won’t work!
Blaming victims is just idiotic, God does not like ugly and right now you are showing everyone how ugly you are!!
callitasitis says
@NOE
So special needs is NOT special education. So the 17 years old is a young man functioning at intelligent of 8-10 years old. If this is correct then I am error of the victim’s contribution to their victimization. I can careless if you support LGBT, I can careless about your sexual orientation. You must be in conflict since you called out the Almighty. My position is still the same if a person of authority is over a juvenile and engages in a sexual behavior the law is clear. My question if this person is operation at this age level of 8-10 years why are they at the high school being taught by a substitute teacher? May I suggest you read a book written by Anna C. Salter/ Predators. LGBT has their own agenda in the schools since they have impacted the school sexual awareness topic.
bird says
Children with “special needs” may have mild learning disabilities or profound cognitive impairment, or even terminal illness. This is not a gay issue sir! and yes, “special needs” classes are taught at regular schools. In some states they have “special needs” schools that teach only “special needs” children. Until we learn more about this situation you might possibly refrain from your opinion, because your opinion is quite frankly inappropriate.
callitasitis says
@Bird
So the teacher is not GAY or Bisexual??? I understand the student may not be because of limited mental factors and may have been groomed by the teacher for his (teacher) sexual deviance. The teacher will get his in court and in prison IF all what is stated in the new outlet is true. If not he will placed on probation because the DA will not put a mental limited person on the stand.
callitasitis says
A 17 year old male is sexual assault by a substitute teacher not once but multiple times on different dates? Sound like the special needs student is Gay or bisexual as is the teacher involved. This appears to be LGBT issue? The teacher is in the wrong because his involvement with an under age student but the story does not sound right.
Dee says
Was it an LGBT issue when the Quartz Hill soccer coach was sexually assaulting his players multiple times on different dates for years on end? Did that story not sound right too?? Are the soccer youth players gay or bisexual too? What are you really trying to say with this comment?! What is an “LGBT issue” anyway? Does that mean the situation is less heinous because the participants prefer the same sex? You should be ashamed for even making this comment. Good grief!
Scott says
Dee, good point. This has nothing to do with being gay or straight. Most assaults are of the same sex. This is someone older taking advantage of someone else’s misunderstandings and fears. Let’s not blame the LGBT groups. They are just as angered by this kind of treatment of children as well.
bird says
What an absolutely repulsive comment!
Dd says
Who gives a ? It’s obviously not right whatever the sexual preference of whoever. What a stupid thing to say.
coco says
Remember a special needs 17 year old student can have the maturity of a 9 year old boy or younger depending on the severity of his disability. He also could have been scared. Who knows we weren’t there. Point is the guy knew better and took advantage of a student. Teachers should know not to mess with their students. They can get it somewhere else.