This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Crime & Safety

Martinez Man Arraigned on Child Sex Abuse Charges

The elementary school teacher faces 91 felony charges stemming from the alleged sexual abuse of 11 students.

By Bay City News Service

A Concord elementary school teacher pleaded not guilty today to 91 felony charges stemming from the alleged sexual abuse of 11 current and former students, a prosecutor said.

The Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office has charged 45-year-old Joseph Andrew Martin with crimes including 81 counts of lewd and lascivious acts against a child under 14.

The charges are based on an eight-week investigation into the longtime Woodside Elementary School teacher, Concord police said. He pleaded not guilty to all of the charges in a Martinez courtroom today, Deputy District Attorney Derek Butts said.

Police said detectives served search warrants last Thursday at his Martinez home and at his classroom, where the alleged acts are believed to have occurred.

He was arrested at his home on Thursday and is being held in county jail on $10 million bail, Butts said.

The investigation was prompted by a student who claimed in April to have been inappropriately touched by Martin, police said.

Police said Martin was placed on administrative leave from Woodside Elementary School while the investigation was carried out. Martin has been employed by the Mt. Diablo Unified School District since 1991, according to police.

He is set to return to court on July 18.

Copyright © 2013 by Bay City News, Inc. -- Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.