LOS ANGELES — A special education teacher’s assistant has been charged with sexually abusing two boys over a six-year period, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced today.
Deputy District Attorney Carmelia Mejia said Joaquin Diaz, 44, of Woodland Hills was charged on May 27 with two counts of continuous sexual abuse and one count of kidnapping for child molesting.
On that day, Diaz pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to return on June 28 to Department S of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, San Fernando Branch.
The case includes an allegation that the offenses were committed against more than one victim.
According to the criminal complaint, Diaz sexually abused one victim, now age 19, from Sept. 1, 2009 to Dec. 2, 2014. The second victim, now 11, was allegedly abused beginning July 1, 2015 to May 20, 2016, when the defendant is charged with kidnapping the victim, the prosecutor said.
The defendant worked for various LAUSD schools when the alleged crimes occurred, the prosecutor added.
If convicted as charged, Diaz faces a possible maximum sentence of multiple life terms in state prison.
Bail was set at $3 million.
