Students React Strongly After Teacher is Accused of Molesting Underage Girl

Ricardo Aldana/Photo via Facebook

Ricardo Aldana, a male teacher at JSerra Catholic High School in San Juan Capistrano, was fired yesterday after being accused of molesting a female student who was 14 or younger at the time.

But students aren't reacting well to the news, and today, some showed up to school wearing t-shirts that read "Free Aldana," reports the OC Register.

Aldana taught Spanish and coached boys and girls volleyball at the school. Students are so enamored of the 37-year-old teacher that in addition to making the shirts, they've set up a Facebook page called "Free Aldana," where shirts are being sold, and have been tweeting their support for him with the hashtag #freealdana:

My favorite teacher got arrested for some BS. #freealdana
I believe aldana is 100% innocent. he was a former teacher/ friend to all of us and he was the person you could go to for any probelm no matter what it was. I know for a FACT he would have been standing behind us if we were in this situation so we have to stand behind him too. Free Aldana♥

Ricardo Aldana has shown nothing but kindness and caring for his students in a good way. He has always been there to help me when I need it. I couldn't believe for one second that he would do something like this. Everyone cares about Aldana at JSerra and I'm sure if you question anyone else who has had him or knows him they will agree with me. Free Aldana.

Aldana was arrested Wednesday after the girl reportedly told her mother about the alleged molestation.

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By Jessica Pauline Ogilvie in News on December 16, 2011 11:30 AM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Ilissa Gold

Without getting into the above argument, the comments on the OC Weekly article answer, in stunning and tragic fashion, the answer of why sexual abuse victims don't come forward.

lucytwoshoes

I totally agree with you and think that it's truly horrible. That's why I'm talking about a push for neutrality. When people get defensive in response to what they see as presumed guilt, that's when the comments like those at the OC Weekly's article come about, which I agree are completely one-sided and accusatory to the young girl. Assumptions of innocence when it leads to accusations against a victim are horrible, but I wonder if they would be as strong if it weren't for the apparent assumption of guilt? If the school had put him on mandatory unpaid leave for the duration of the investigation and trial rather than presuming guilt and terminating him, and if articles like the OC Weekly didn't lean toward presumed guilt, I don't think the comments would have been as strong.

Regardless, I completely agree with you that resulting comments are horrible and make for a very hostile environment for anyone to come forward. It's a very hard balance to strike - how to provide respect and support for both sides as the evidence is gathered. I really hope that as the evidence comes out, people respond better and are able to let go of preconceived notions where necessary.

As an aside - I felt like the language in those comments spoke more strongly about the school than anything else. Not sure any other high school would really be any different, but wow. Not a lot of compassion or critical thinking portrayed.

Circe Poo

You're the most rational person I've come across on LAist in awhile. Good job :)

gustavoarellano

It'd be nice of you guys to link to us—you know, because we broke the story:

http://blogs.ocweekly.com/nave...

lucytwoshoes

If your story was a bit less biased perhaps that would have been a good link. But when you end an article with this: "Now those words just read CREEPY. More details to come as they become available...in the meanwhile, heckuva job, Brownie!" you pretty much come across as condemning the man without a trial. And the "Not so happy now" comment regarding his booking photo. At this point it is a he-said/she-said case, which calls for a bit more neutrality than your article contains.

Your update includes this: "Talarico told the mother the school would investigate, saying he was a "good teacher." Aldana, predictably, denied everything, and the school noted he had no prior charges ever brought against him, despite rumors circulating at his previous employer. " which makes it seem like those rumors would have been known by Talarico at the time of this initial report, which is not necessarily true after reading the linked article. Schools are mandated reporters of child abuse, so if there were real allegations at the old school, they would have been obligated to report to the authorities. There would be a record. If there is no record, either these allegations are just student rumors based on teenage speculation about why a teacher is leaving or the officials at Hawthorne should be in major legal trouble for not reporting an allegation.

I'm not saying that he is innocent. I have no connection with him or the schools, nor do I even live in Orange County. It just really bothers me when people are condemned in the media before any real evidence has surfaced beyond accusations. When I was in high school, a fellow student did actually falsely accuse a school employee of rape. He lost his job. It was all over the news. And the biological evidence (there was a rape kit done at the time in this case) found that the DNA did not match. It was a false accusation, but this man's life was already ruined. I know false accusations are rare, so I'm not saying this is one, but they exist, and until we know more, I think more care should be taken to remain neutral in the media.

So thank you, LAist, for linking to less biased sources of information. :)

gustavoarellano

If you believe mandated reporters report everything, then you must also believe leprechauns ride unicorns in Candyland.

lucytwoshoes

Um, you missed my point. Innocent until proven guilty. If the prior school failed to report, then they are breaking the law as well. Hopefully all the evidence will come out, and we'll be able to have a better picture - which may very well fit in with your portrayal. But until then. Neutrality please.