Janitor at Germain School Booked for Alleged Lewd Act on a Child

A 37-year-old janitor at in Chatsworth was booked Monday on suspicion of committing lewd acts on a child, authorities said.

Paul Adame, who was released after posting $100,000 bail, has a Feb. 27 court date in San Fernando, according to jail booking records.

This is the third arrest in recent days of a school district employee accused of inappropriate sexual conduct with students.

The mother of a Germain Elementary student went to the Los Angeles Police Department's Devonshire Station on Sunday and reported allegedly "inappropriate contact between a janitor employed at the school and her child," according to the LAPD.

The Devonshire Station's sexual assault unit took over the case and, with the assistance of the Los Angeles School Police Department, arrested Adame.

"Due to the nature of this ongoing investigation and the need to protect the identity of the victim, no information is being released regarding the criminal behavior, or the name, age or gender of the child," an LAPD statement says.

LAUSD school board member Tamar Galatzan, who represents Chatsworth, issued a statement to the Daily News about Adame's arrest.

"I'm disgusted by the allegations," she said.. I applaud law enforcement, school police and the school for responding immediately. This is now in the hands of law enforcement."

Detectives are urging parents of students at Germain Elementary "to speak with their children regarding Adame to determine if they were subject to any inappropriate behavior," according to the LAPD statement.

Anyone with information on the case should call Devonshire detectives at 818-832-0609 or 877-LAPD-24-7.

Meanwhile, dozens of outraged parents staged a rally Monday outside Miramonte Elementary School, where two teachers were arrested last week on allegations of lewd acts and sexual crimes against students.

The campus was open Monday but will stay closed on Tuesday and Wednesday while the investigation continues.

During an emotional gathering in front of the South Los Angeles-area school, some disagreement emerged among some parents who brought their children to school in spite of the investigation and those who insisted on keeping their children out of class.

"My son deserves the right for an education," one parent who was keeping her son out of school told Fox11. She said she was concerned for her son's safety.

Parents plan to meet with Los Angeles Unified School District officials, including Superintendent John Deasy, at 6 p.m. at nearby South Region High School No. 2 to discuss the abuse attributed to 61-year-old Mark Berndt and 49- year-old Martin Springer. Both men have been taken into custody.

Berndt, a former third-grade Miramonte teacher, was arrested Monday for allegedly taking photos of students who were blindfolded, had tape over their mouths and spoons of liquid held to their lips. He had taught at the school for 30 years.

On Friday, Springer, of Alhambra, was arrested on suspicion of lewd conduct -- including allegedly fondling two female students.

Attorney Dave Ring told CBS2 that a teachers aide at the school was convicted of fondling three young girls back in 2003 and is serving a prison term.

"I could not believe it," Ring told CBS2. "So, you've had three perpetrators at the same school overlapping in time. Something seriously wrong there."

Ring has a lawsuit pending against the school district in connection with the 2003 case.

Another attorney, Luis A. Carrillo of South Pasadena, said he filed a claim against the LAUSD on behalf of three alleged victims.

"Everybody fell asleep at the wheel, and the responsibility lies with the school district for failure to protect the kids," he told KCAL9.

Deasy, who has described the allegations against Berndt as "despicable," said he would ask the school board Tuesday to fire Springer, as it has done with Berndt.

"As an educator and a father, I'm appalled and sickened by the allegations against this teacher," Deasy said. "The district is working closely with the entire Miramonte community to deal with the terrible trauma that has arisen as the result of the arrest of Mark Berndt earlier this week and (Friday's) arrest of Martin Springer."

Berndt, who is charged with abusing 23 children between 2005 and 2011, is being held in lieu of $23 million -- $1 million per alleged victim -- and scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 21 at the Metropolitan Branch Courthouse.

Springer is being held on $2 million bail after being arrested as he emerged from a LAUSD building at 107th Street and Western Avenue. The allegations against him involve girls who were about seven years old when they were "allegedly fondled in a classroom" sometime in the past three years, according to Sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker.

Deasy was expected to recommend Tuesday that the LAUSD Board of Education fire Springer. The board has a closed-session meeting scheduled for 10 a.m.

"I will support the superintendent's recommendation and am expecting that tomorrow after the board meeting we'll be able to tell you what the board does," board President Monica Garcia said.

Springer has not yet been charged, although he was tentatively expected to be appear in court Tuesday.

-- This story is based City News Service reports.