Crime & Safety
Trial Date Set For Teacher Accused Of Lewd Acts
Lake Elsinore resident Stephen James Wolford, 49, could face four years in prison if convicted of lewd acts on a child under 15 years old, a felony, and a misdemeanor count of annoying a child under 18.
A March 5 trial date was confirmed today for an Eastvale teacher accused of kissing a female student on the chest and head.
Lake Elsinore resident Stephen James Wolford, 49, could face four years in prison if convicted of lewd acts on a child under 15 years old, a felony, and a misdemeanor count of annoying a child under 18.
The Lake Elsinore man, who remains free on $25,000 bail, appeared today with his attorney before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Richard Fields for a status conference, during which both the defense and prosecution agreed they would likely be ready for trial in early March.
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Fields vacated a previous trial date of Feb. 6.
Wolford was arrested in December 2010 following an investigation by sheriff's detectives. The Eleanor Roosevelt High School teacher is on mandatory unpaid leave pending the outcome of his case, according to officials with the Norco-Unified School District.
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According to an arrest warrant affidavit filed by sheriff's Investigator Joel Pabelico, a student at Roosevelt alleged that Wolford kissed her just above the left breast while speaking with her alone after class in May 2010.
The girl, whose identity was not released, also alleged that on four separate occasions, Wolford kissed her on the forehead.
Pabelico said witnesses corroborated the allegations and related that "Wolford focused his attention (on the victim) and made comments to her and her friends," allegedly saying, " 'You're my daughters. I'll take care of you.' "
