Riverside Teacher, Hector Eduardo Zaldivar, Pleads Not Guilty
RIVERSIDE (CNS) – A Riverside elementary school teacher accused of sexually assaulting two girls pleaded not guilty Wednesday to forcible lewd acts on a child and other offenses.
Hector Eduardo Zaldivar, 53, of Ontario was arrested earlier this month 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 was arraigned before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Charles Koosed, who scheduled a felony settlement conference for May 1 at the Riverside Hall of Justice. Zaldivar is being held in lieu of $200,000 bail at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.
According to Riverside police Officer Ryan Railsback, the department’s Sexual Assault-Child Abuse Unit received a report in early February 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 incidents 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 after the defendant was arrested. “We understand that this news is deeply troubling, and we remain committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.”
Zaldivar’s length of employment with AUSD and his exact position were not provided.
The criminal complaint stated that he “took advantage of a position of trust and confidence to commit the crimes.”
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