Gratts teacher's aide arrested for lewd acts with child

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A teacher's aide at an elementary school near downtown Los Angeles was arrested on Thursday for allegedly committing lewd acts on a child.

Jorge Dominguez, 25, has worked at Gratts Elementary School for six years as a part-time employee, and he also coached after-school sports at a local charter school. He is the latest in a string of LAUSD employees charged with lewd acts against children.

Grethel Maldonado was one of many parents who came to the school to check on her children in the middle of the day.

"For a teacher or a T.A. to do that, it's unacceptable," Maldonado said.

She said she came to meet with her two sons as soon as she heard of the allegations against the teacher's aide.

Dominguez was taken into custody at his home, not far from the Gratts campus. He was booked on one count of lewd acts with a child. The LAPD did not release any further information, and the district said it's not known if the alleged victim is a student in the LAUSD.

In a written statement, Superintendent John Deasy said, "At this time, there are no known victims at Gratts Elementary School, which is also known as Gratts Learning Academy for Young Scholars."

Since Dominguez was a part-time employee, he has already been fired. On the campus, parents who knew Dominguez were stunned.

"He's cool. He's always laughing and joking and running back and forth playing soccer with the kids," said parent Mary Cano.

Another mother said she pulled her son out of school when she heard the news.

"It's scary," she said.

The arrest comes five months after two teachers at Miramonte Elementary in South L.A. were arrested on similar charges. Administrators at Gratts Elementary sent a letter home with students to inform them of a meeting with parents that's scheduled for Friday at 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Dominguez is being held in $100,000 bail. Anyone with information about Dominguez, or who may have been a victim, is urged to call (877) LAPD-24-7.

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