A man who worked at a Glendale elementary school and with the city’s after-school program and summer day camp was charged Thursday with lewd acts involving six boys.
Pedro Antonio Tellez, 29, pleaded not guilty to eight felony counts of lewd act on a child under the age of 14, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office.
Investigators allege that Tellez — who worked as an aide for disabled students at elementary schools — touched the boys inappropriately and with a sexual intent while he was working at various schools in Glendale between 2018 and 2023, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Tellez was placed on administrative leave from his hourly positions at the elementary school, the One Glendale After School Youth Sports Program and Summer Day Camp Program, according to Glendale Police Department Sgt. Victor Jackson. Tellez had worked in the positions since March.
The parents of two alleged victims made separate reports to police regarding their child being touched inappropriately by Tellez at John Muir Elementary School, according to Jackson. He noted then that the preliminary investigation led detectives to believe that there might be additional alleged victims dating back five years.
In a statement announcing the charges against Tellez, the District Attorney’s Office said there were more potential alleged victims who have come forward and are being interviewed. Any other alleged victims were urged to call the Glendale Police Department at 818-548-4840 and ask to speak with a detective in the Assaults Bureau, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
“It’s heartbreaking and deeply disturbing when someone entrusted with such a role, and especially someone acting as a guardian to such a vulnerable group of children, chooses to violate the sacred trust that exists between educators, students and their families,” District Attorney George Gascón said in a statement announcing the charges. “We will not tolerate such despicable acts within our community.”
Tellez has remained behind bars since his arrest Tuesday by Glendale police, jail records show.
He is due in a Pasadena courtroom Oct. 19, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to require him to stand trial.