8-year-old boy told police Megaw abused him daily
UPLAND -- Police reports in the public court file of a former Upland elementary school teacher accused of molesting six children detail the allegations of one of the alleged victims.
An 8-year-old boy in James Andrew Megaw's Valencia Elementary School class told police that Megaw would touch him inappropriately over his clothing on a daily basis.
The boy, who was interviewed by police Oct. 24 at his home, told investigators that the abuse started one week after school started in August.
Prosecutors filed six felony counts of lewd act on a child under 14 years old against Megaw, of Rancho Cucamonga, last week.
Megaw, 42, pleaded not guilty to the charges and is currently free on $600,000 bail.
The boy told police the touching would occur when he would walk up to Megaw's desk seeking help on an assignment.
While positioned behind Megaw's desk, out of view of the rest of the class, the boy told police Megaw would rub the boy's genitals through his clothing for up to 40 seconds.
The boy told police Megaw would ask him, "How do you like that?" and "Does that feel good?" according to the police report.
The boy said Megaw would touch his own genitals while touching the boy.
An attorney for Megaw said the former teacher is "obviously shocked by the allegations."
"We believe they will be proven to be untrue," said Leonard Levine, the attorney. "He has the support of many people in his community -- his church, Lion's Club, school district and so forth -- who have offered to testify on his behalf as to his good character.
"We're confident when the truth comes out he will be totally exonerated," Levine said.
Megaw, known professionally as Andy, is the former president of the Upland Teachers Association and at one time held numerous leadership positions in the California Teachers Association.
He took a leave of absence from his teaching position when the molestation allegations surfaced in October. He resigned last week.
The parents of the alleged victim told police they learned of the alleged abuse against their son when he came home from school on Oct. 24.
There was a school event planned for that evening that the parents were scheduled to attend.
The boy suggested they didn't have to go if they didn't want to, the parents told police.
The parents told police the boy then said, "Do you know what's weird?" and went on to detail the alleged abuse by Megaw.
The boy told police he didn't tell his parents sooner because he worried they would tell the school and he would be expelled.
"I asked the victim if he had ever told his teacher 'no' or tried to stop him in any way," the officer's report states. "The victim told me that he would try to move away from the teacher by stepping away, however, the teacher would gently grab his arm and pull him back closer to him."
After the first alleged victim came forward, police interviewed the rest of the 20 students in Megaw's class. The school also sent a statement about the investigation to parents at the school, said Upland Police Sgt. Cliff Matthews.
It was through that process that the five additional alleged victims -- aged 7 to 9 years old -- came forward, Matthews.
The alleged victims include three girls and three boys.
All but one alleged victim were Megaw's students during the current school year. One victim was in Megaw's class during the 2006-2007 school year.
The police reports in Megaw's case file do not yet include officers' accounts of interviews with the other alleged victims in Megaw's case or with Megaw himself.
Megaw did not return a call seeking comment. Levine, his attorney, said Megaw will not make any public statements on his case until it reaches the trial stage.
Levine said Megaw is eager to testify if his case goes to trial. "He wants everyone to know that he's innocent," Levine said.
"Where these kids are getting these allegations from, there could be a variety of possibilities," Levine said. "What we do know is that Mr. Megaw did not do what they claimed."
Mr. Megaw
There are many parents that want to believe this is not true.
If you have not already done so request a lie detector test and have the results made public.
Since you have nothing to hide put the publics mind at ease and prove it to them.
May thoughts and prayers for all involved.
As a parent who has been in Mr. Megaw's classroom this year and others, I would like to point out a few facts. #1-Mr. Megaw's desk is connected to 2 student desks at the front of the room and it would be virtually impossible for anything hidden to be going on there. #2-Mr. Megaw rarely sits at the desk. His classroom is equipped with the 'Smartboard' and he is usually standing up front using it. Even when giving spelling tests, he is walking around the room. #3-Mr. Megaw has parents in the classroom every day and invites us to drop in any time to help....not something a sneaky person would normally do. Yes, I realize this proves nothing, but hopefully all facts will be considered when reviewing statements and such.
#4 Six (and counting) different students, with no opportunity to get together to compare notes, told very similar stories about their experiences. #5 Mr. Megaw is an adult and is quite capable of planning his actions when students/parents are not in a position to view his deeds. I know this doesn't prove anything, either, but I'm amazed how naive and trusting people can be - while at the same time disregarding the children. I, too, hope all facts will be considered...
#6 My daughter was in Mr. Megaw's class in the 06/07 school year.When asking our child if she remembered seeing anything happen or if Mr Megaw ever touched her in any way that was unexecptable her response was NO!#7
These children may not of talked to each other about what was going on,but the parents do talk and they ask there children a lot of questions that may influence there answers.#8 Please don't convict the man without a trial.
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Megaw family. For those that know him we know these allegations are NOT TRUE. Andy is a great leader, teacher and coworker. For the parents and children who made these false allegations, may you be sued for everything you have when the truth comes out!!
Everyone IS Innocent until proven guilty BUT NOT Everyone has 6 CHARGES OF SEXUAL ABUSE in their life time. Mr Megaw has a lot to explain to the authorities we belive in the justice sistem and the time will tell. I'm so glad they found it before something wors could hapen.
This all seems so suspicious. The usual "M.O." is for an abuser to single out a victim over a long period of time and gain their trust. For 5 children to claim this in one month is truly unbelievable. It is also suspect that the accusations came out right as Mr. Megaw's wife was running for school board in another city. It just sounds too suspicious. Children often say what they thing other adults (ie: parents or police officers) say. They can be unknowingly "cued" to say things. I don't believe the accusations, and I hope the truth will come to light. Keep your head up, Mr. Megaw.
For parents, you people are horrible spellers.