A martial arts instructor who allegedly molested a student during private lessons pleaded not guilty today to lewd acts on a child and other felony charges.
Albert George Williams, 63, of Lake Elsinore could face more than 50 years in prison if convicted of nine counts of lewd acts on a child under 14 years old, two counts of oral copulation of a minor and one count of witness intimidation.
Williams appeared Monday with his attorney before Riverside County Superior Court Judge Michael Rushton, who set a Jan. 4 felony settlement conference and left the defendant's bail set at $3 million.
The defendant was arrested Nov. 3 following an investigation into his alleged contact with an 8-year-old girl, whose identity was withheld, at his house in the 15600 block of Laguna Avenue.
"The investigation revealed that the victim ... was taking a Taekwondo lesson from Williams in a garage. It was learned that during one of these private classes, Williams sexually molested the victim," sheriff's Sgt. Todd Pauling said.
The defendant was interviewed and booked the same day into the Southwest Detention Center in Murrieta.
Williams has no prior convictions in Riverside County, according to court records.
