Lake Elsinore Man Pleads Not Guilty To Charges Of Lewd Acts On A Child

A Lake Elsinore man accused of kissing a female student on her chest and head pleaded not guilty today to one count each of committing lewd acts on a child and annoying a child under 18 years old.

Stephen James Wolford, 48, a teacher at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Eastvale, was charged with the felony and misdemeanor counts in December following an investigation by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department.

Wolford, who remains free on $25,000 bail, was arraigned this afternoon before Superior Judge James T. Warren, who set a felony settlement conference in the case for March 25.

Wolford is on mandatory unpaid leave from his job pending the outcome of his criminal case, according to officials with the Norco-Unified School District.

According to a declaration filed in support of an arrest warrant executed 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 last May.

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.'''

The defendant could face three years in state prison if convicted. --City News Service