Jorge Dominguez, Gratts School Teacher's Aide, Arrested in Sex Abuse Investigation

By Dennis Romero Thu., May 17 2012 at 4:51 PM

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Gratts.

Another L.A. public schools employee has been accused of "horrifying and sickening" acts with children, according to the superintendent. Jorge Dominguez was arrested this morning, and district officials said they were in the process of firing him this afternoon.

That contrasts with the situation the erupted at Miramonte Elementary School in South L.A., where district officials kept parents in the dark for months regarding the unspeakable allegations levied against teacher Mark Berndt.

In this case ...

... suspect Jorge Dominguez appears not to enjoy the union protections of a full-time teacher. In a statement, the L.A. Unified School District described him as a part-time, temporary teacher's aide.

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While there do seem to be off-campus accusers, LAUSD spokeswoman Gayle Pollard-Terry told the Weekly that, "at this time, there are no known victims at Gratts Elementary School."

Dominguez had been at the school since 2004, but earlier indications that he was a coach and after-school worker turned out to be untrue, Pollard-Terry said.

Superintendent John Deasy sent out this statement:

The allegations against Jorge Dominguez, a teacher's aide at Gratts Elementary School, regarding lewd acts with a child and criminal acts against children are horrifying and sickening. We learned of these accusations and his arrest this morning, and are cooperating with the Los Angeles Police Department in this on-going investigation.

Interestingly, the LAPD today asked TV news crews not to film students on or near campus.

The school, located in the Westlake district near downtown, has about 649 students and is nearly 95 percent Latino.

This time around parents were being notified quickly.

[@dennisjromero / djromero@laweekly.com / @LAWeeklyNews]

Tags:

LAUSD, lewd acts, Miramonte, schools, sex abuse, teacher, Westlake

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Anitaho815

I am a friend of Jorge. I would have to agree Jorge was very helpful and sincere but something about his relationship with kids was not ok. Alot of it was body language. Although it wasnt enough to suspect him of these allegations i just thought it was a little extra.When I used to work with him at one of the schools I knew some of the relationships he had with students were over the edge. I felt he was into these kinds of acts but I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Now there is real evidence of his sins and mistakes. It is good he won't be around any children where he is now.

Edward Rugerio

i grew up with him and always gave me good advise and now i am in college i will do my best to help him if there is a tape why dont they say the things that happen there or who that person can be he is a good work and a good person.

Florencio Virgen3903

I've been knowing him since i was a little kid growing up in L.A. We play soccer in MacAuthur park. I know he won't do this and i can bet money on it. That won' be him.

123w

Someone please let him know we still are here for him

123w

I do not believe this at all I hope to hear more about this story soon I knew him and never was there any reason to think that he would be this type of person Perhaps the person is trying to hurt him with lies as I know he had stepped up to help others when they were being mistreated.