Alvord USD Teacher, Hector Edward Zaldivar, Charged
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – A Riverside elementary school teacher accused of sexually assaulting two girls was charged Tuesday with forcible lewd acts on a child and other offenses.
Hector Eduardo Zaldivar, 53, of Ontario was arrested last week following a Riverside Police Department investigation.
Along with two counts of lewd acts, Zaldivar is charged with sexual penetration of a minor by force or fear and a sentence-enhancing allegation of targeting two or more victims in a sex crime.
The defendant, who is being held in lieu of $1 million bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta, was slated to make his initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon at the Riverside Hall of Justice.
According to Riverside police Officer Ryan Railsback, the department’s Sexual Assault-Child Abuse Unit received a report earlier this month from a youth who had attended Zaldivar’s class in the Alvord Unified School District two years ago.
The girl, identified in court documents only as “L.A.,” alleged that she had been molested.
Further investigation by SACA detectives turned up a second student, identified only as “J.L.,” who also said the defendant had assaulted her, court papers alleged.
The alleged assaults occurred between May 2022 and June 2023, according to the prosecution. The specific circumstances were not disclosed.
“Alvord Unified School District has placed the teacher on immediate administrative leave and is taking all necessary steps to ensure the safety and support of our students, staff and families,” AUSD Superintendent Resma Byrne said. “We understand that this news is deeply troubling, and we remain committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.”
The defendant’s length of employment with AUSD and his exact position were not provided.
The criminal complaint stated that Zaldivar “took advantage of a position of trust and confidence to commit the crimes.”
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