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August 27, 2005
Arraignment postponed for PA teacher charged with sex with student
San Mateo County prosecutors on Wednesday postponed until Sept. 9 the arraignment of a longtime Palo Alto middle school teacher and coach accused of molesting a student, saying police are investigating the possibility of other victims.
``We don't want to arraign him on an incomplete set of charges,'' said Deputy District Attorney Melissa McKowan. ``Menlo Park police now have three other pending investigations related to the case.''
Bill Giordano was 46 and the girl was 14 when he first seduced her, prosecutors said. Their sexual contacts continued for more than two years.
Giordano faces trial on 28counts of illegal sexual behavior under a penal code section that specifies a child between 14 and 17 years of age and an adult who is 10 years or more older.
Giordano remains in custody, with bail set at $1 million.
Giordano did not speak in court Wednesday. When he first appeard in a Redwood City courtroom Monday no one but his lawyer was there to support him; three retired Palo Alto Unified teachers were there Wednesday. Myrna Carlson, a former math teacher, said she first met Giordano when he came to the district in 1978. ``He was absolutely generous and wonderful. There couldn't have been anybody who was more involved,'' she said.
Giordano was arrested last week at his Menlo Park home. Menlo Park police, who began their investigation earlier this month, said they searched the home and removed some items from it. Both the search warrant request and the list of items have been sealed from public view.
The alleged abuse took place between December 1991 and March 1994. The victim, an eight-grader who was also coached by Giordano, was lured into a relationship after Giordano asked her to babysit his young son, prosecutor Melissa McKowan said.
The abuse was recently disclosed in therapy, she said. The girl is now a woman of 28.
For prosecutors to take a years-old case to court requires strong independent evidence, including confession, medical findings, other victims or corroborative materials, said Steve Wagstaffe, San Mateo County's Chief Deputy District Attorney.
Giordano is on unpaid leave from his job at Jordan Middle School, where he was athletic director teaching physical education and coaching the school's track and volleyball team.
He has worked for the district since 1978 and in addition to teaching math, science, English and art, has also served as a student activities director.
Since news of Giordano's arrest spread through the district, parents and students have been surprised and dismayed. Many describe the hours he gave to organize trips, snack bars, sports camps and other student activities.
Posted by Nealus at August 27, 2005 01:19 PM
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