This story is free to read because readers choose to support LAist. If you find value in independent local reporting, make a donation to power our newsroom today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Teacher At Exclusive Brentwood School Pleads Not Guilty To Unlawful Sex With 16-Year-Old Student
A female teacher at an exclusive Westside private school pleaded not guilty Friday to charges that she had unlawful sex with a 16-year-old male student.
Aimee Palmitessa, who worked for nine years at the Brentwood School, was arrested last month and faces up to 10 years and four months in prison, if convicted. She has been charged with seven counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, two counts each of sodomy and sexual penetration by foreign object of a person under 18, and a single count of oral copulation of a person under 18, according to City News Service.
Palmitessa was arrested after the student reported the incident to authorities, and put on administrative leave by the elite, K-12 coed school after her arrest. She is accused of having had sex with her teenage former student multiple times between June 12 and August 11.
Brentwood School head Dr. Mike Riera told the school of the incident via a written statement in August, which was quoted in the Hollywood Reporter:
On Friday afternoon, the Los Angeles Police Department informed Brentwood School that Upper School teacher, Dr. Aimee Palmitessa, had been arrested on suspicion of inappropriate relations with a student and is expected to face charges. The LAPD did not share additional information with us, such as the nature of the inappropriate relationship or the identity of the minor student. We immediately placed Dr. Palmitessa on administrative leave. We were shocked and distressed to receive the news of these allegations. As always, our primary concern is the safety, health, and well-being of our students. To that end, we will do everything we can to cooperate with the official police investigation.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
