L.A. assistant principal charged with molestation of 2 more students

Assistant Principal Stephen T. Rooney was transferred to Markham Middle School in South Los Angeles last year, even though he was accused of engaging in a sexual relationship with a student at a previous school, Foshay Learning Center.

That transfer appears to have violated district policies, which require officials to conduct an independent investigation of abuse allegations before allowing a teacher or an administrator who has been accused of sexual misconduct to return to a school.

Rooney was charged last month with five counts of forcible lewd acts with a 13-year-old student at Markham. Now, he has been charged with molesting a second Markham student, a 14-year-old girl. Moreover, prosecutors said Monday they now had enough evidence to charge Rooney with molestation in the Foshay case, in which he previously had not been charged. In that case, he is alleged to have had sexual relations with a 15-year-old girl, beginning in 2005.

The new allegations are more bad news for officials of Los Angeles Unified School District, which has come under intense criticism for transferring Rooney to Markham even though they knew he had been accused of sexual relations with the Foshay student.

A relative of the Foshay student, who spoke on the condition that he not be named, said he was relieved that Rooney was charged but questioned why it took so long. The family said they had complained to police about Rooney's alleged misconduct.

"He's gotten away with a lot of things, and I just feel for these kids," the relative said.

School district officials in a statement declined to comment, saying they do not interfere with Los Angeles Police Department investigations.

L.A. schools Supt. David L. Brewer, who apologized to Markham parents last month, said he had ordered an internal investigation into the district's handling of the case.

Parents and students gathered outside Markham after school Monday said the new allegations added to their mistrust of school administrators.

"They should be taking care of our kids," said Maria Rios, 33, a stay-at-home mom who was picking up her 12-year-old daughter. Rios questioned why Rooney was not investigated more thoroughly.