By Ed Diokno
A former teacher could face a minimum of 900 years in prison on 87 counts of child molestation and kidnapping.
Ron Guinto, 34, was found guilty last week of of 87 of 90 charges.
Guinto of Vallejo, Calif. was arrested by Richmond, Calif. police in March 2014 when he was a teacher at Making Waves Academy charter school. Police launched an investigation after receiving a call about suspicious circumstances between a teacher and students, who were 10 and 12 years old.
Police interviewed 15 students and say Guinto had started a boys-only cam called Camp Epic, without the school’s knowledge.
Guinto’s stated goal for the camp was to teach life lessons to the boys, but instead he sexually assaulted 15 of them, police said.
“Ron Guinto’s conduct is horrific and totally contrary to MWA’s mission and values,” said the CEO of Making Waves.
According to the victims’ testimony, they went on numerous camping trips with the Filipino American mentor who was the only adult present with the boys. The boys described various acts of molestation ranging from slaps on the groin to oral sex and sodomy.
Guinto’s sentencing is set for March 24, in Martinez, California.
Ed Diokno writes a blog :Views From The Edge: news and analysis from an Asian American perspective.
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