By Melody Gutierrez
mgutierrez@sacbee.com
A Sacramento special education teacher was arraigned today on six counts of lewd acts with a 7-year-old boy and one count of communicating with a 14-year-old boy with the intent to commit a sexual offense.
Preston Howard Lewis, 50, was placed on paid administrative leave Sept. 3 from Sacramento City Unified School District, where he is a teacher at Sam Brannan Middle School near Riverside Boulevard and South Land Park Drive.
The alleged abuse of the 7-year-old occurred between 2004 and 2005, according to the criminal complaint filed by the District Attorney's office. Preston is accused of communicating with the 14-year-old between March 1, 2010 and Sept. 1, 2010.
Sacramento police Sgt. Norm Leong said the department was notified by the school district of concerns that that one of its employees "may have engaged in inappropriate conduct with a juvenile."
"Based on the investigation, police believe Lewis committed sexual acts or had sexual conversations with the victims," Leong said.
"In one case, Lewis provided a cell phone and computer to a victim, which were used to facilitate sexual conversations," he said.
The criminal complaint references a photograph Lewis allegedly took of the 7-year-old boy in a sex act with Lewis.
Leong and Sacramento City Unified officials would not comment on whether the victims were students. Parents at Sam Brannan Middle School were notified today by the district using an automated phone message system.
"We are shocked by these allegations, and if they prove true, we will take the strongest possible action against this employee," said district spokesman Gabe Ross in a statement. "Safety of children is our top priority, and we will work closely with the Sacramento Police Department in this investigation. The employee has been removed from the classroom and put on administrative leave pending the outcome of this case."
Photo Caption: Preston Howard Lewis, a Sam Brannan Middle School special education teacher, is arraigned in Sacramento County Superior Court on six counts of sex crimes on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Randall Benton
Call The Bee's Melody Gutierrez, (916) 326-5521. Follow her on Twitter @MelodyGutierrez.
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