San Jose teacher found guilty in child molestation trial

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- Late Thursday afternoon a Santa Clara County jury found a man guilty of lewd and lascivious acts with young children. It's a case against former elementary school teacher Craig Chandler, 36, molested five little girls in the classroom.

The families of the young victims were silent as they left the Hall of Justice. As the verdict was read, Chandler covered his eyes with Kleenex and one juror wiped away tears.

"They were made victims as a result of Mr. Chandler's hiding what he was doing," said Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Alison Filo.

What Chandler was doing inside his classrooms at O.B. Whaley Elementary was blindfolding students and telling them they were part of a lesson involving sensory deprivation and Helen Keller.

One little girl reported Chandler told her to lie down and then he put something gooey in her mouth.

"Mr. Chandler's spermatozoa was found in the classroom is compelling evidence," said said Filo.

The Evergreen School District released a statement late Thursday saying it's helping everyone move forward and that "Chandler's actions not only violated these children, but also cast a pall on the sense of safety and security in our schools for the past 18 months."

This parent says moving on isn't that easy.

"I go to school all the time and I sit in the classrooms just to see how the teachers are," said parent Rebecca Acosta. We asked her if she was going to the school because of Chandler's case and she replied, "Yes."

Chandler is in the Santa Clara County Jail. He'll be sentenced on August 27 and spend 75 years to life in prison.

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san jose, children, child abuse, crime, sex crimes, sex offender, south bay news, lisa amin gulezian

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