A 25-year-old teacher’s aide at a La Verne school focused on the education of special needs children is being held on $2 million bail after she pleaded not guilty to seven charges of child sex offenses involving a boy younger than 14, according to court records.
Veronica Amanda Ramirez of Azusa was arraigned in West Valley Superior court in Rancho Cucamonga Friday. Court records indicate she was charged with four counts of lewd acts with a child and three counts of oral copulation of a child under the age of 14.
Ramirez regularly drove the boy from the school, located at 233 W. Baseline, to his home, according to Sgt. Jeff Higbee with the Ontario Police Department.
When the boy’s parents learned of the abuse, they immediately called police and the school, Higbee said. It wasn’t immediately clear if the school alerted parents.
According to the school’s website, “The Haynes Family of Programs provides specialized treatment and educational services to children with special needs relating to emotional development, autism, Asperger’s Disorder, learning disabilities, neglect and abandonment.”
Ramirez was arrested on the afternoon of Jan. 24 at the school, according to booking logs. She posted the $150,000 bail the following day. Immediately following her arraignment hearing, Ramirez was was taken into custody and is being held in lieu of $2 million bail.
According to the criminal complaint filed against Ramirez, the sexual relationship between the teacher’s aid and the boy began in September and continued until December. It identifies the boy as “a person under the age of fourteen years and more than ten years younger than defendant.”
Police believe this is an isolated incident but are still investigating the case.
