Richmond teacher pleads not guilty to sex abuse

(03-07) 16:42 PST RICHMOND -- A Richmond teacher pleaded not guilty Friday to 25 felony charges, refuting allegations that he molested several students from a charter school during camping trips.

Ronald Guinto, 32, a seventh-grade English and science teacher at Mira Vista Elementary School, appeared in Contra Costa County Superior Court in Richmond on charges that he victimized several boys from Making Waves Academy, an independent charter school in Richmond where he previously worked.

The alleged victims, ages 11 to 13, were assaulted from December 2012 to October of last year, authorities said.

His bail was increased from $1.4 million to $17 million as a result of the felony charges lodged by prosecutors, which included kidnapping with intent to commit lewd acts on a child and aggravated sexual assault of a child.

Guinto, a Vallejo resident, was also charged with two misdemeanor counts of dissuading a witness from making a report, said Nancy Georgiou, a deputy district attorney. Six boys reported being abused, police said.

Guinto's attorney Anne Beles said outside court that her client "comes from a very good family, and he has no prior record."

Guinto's arrest Wednesday was "accelerated" after police learned the night before that he had been hired by the West Contra Costa County Unified School District, said Richmond police Capt. Mark Gagan.

He had been fired in the fall by Making Waves Academy when allegations first surfaced that he had molested boys, authorities said.

But the school district said it was unaware of the pending investigation when it hired Guinto on Dec. 6. He had initially been vetted by the district by way of fingerprint and background checks in 2009 when he applied to become a substitute teacher, said district spokesman Marin Trujillo.

When he applied for the job at Mira Vista Elementary, Guinto listed Making Waves Academy on his resume, but district officials didn't call the academy because he was considered a candidate in good standing, Trujillo said.

He said the district's hiring policies are now being reviewed.