8th-grade California teacher arrested on suspicion of molesting 2 girls, possessing child porn

An eighth-grade history teacher at McKinley School in Pasadena on Friday denied charges that include allegations he molested two girls and possessed explicit pictures of one of them.

Pasadena police arrested Michael Joseph Medina, 35, of Glendale on Thursday. The District Attorney’s Office charged him on Tuesday with seven counts of lewd acts on a child under 14, three counts of lewd acts with a child where the suspect was at least 10 years older than the child, and four counts of possession of child pornography.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges during an arraignment Friday at Pasadena Superior Court, Greg Risling, a spokesman for the DA’s Office, said. Medina will return to court  Aug. 3.

Both victims are 14. Investigators didn’t say where they believe the crimes occurred.

One victim was one of his students and several of the alleged crimes happened before she was 14, police said.

“The child porn consisted of sexually explicit photos of the victim and were found on the suspect’s cellphone,” said Lt. Monica Cuellar, a spokeswoman for the Pasadena Police Department.

The second victim also was a student at McKinley School, officials said.

Police originally arrested Medina on March 1 after Pasadena Unified School District officials became aware of the allegations and reported them to police. Medina posted bond that night and was released. Then the district put him on administrative leave.

“With charges filed by the D.A.’s Office, following state law, PUSD will place Mr. Medina on unpaid leave,” Deputy Supt. Elizabeth Blanco said in a letter sent Thursday to parents and the staff at McKinley, which services kindergarten through eighth grade at 325 S. Oak Knoll Ave.

“The safety of our students is always our highest priority and the Pasadena Unified School District has and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement,” she said.