Upland YMCA teacher pleads not guilty to molesting 4-year-old boy
A teacher at the Scheu Family YMCA of Upland accused of molesting a 4-year-old student pleaded not guilty to criminal charges Wednesday in West Valley Superior Court.
Garrett Wayne Ammon, 30, admitted in a police interview Friday that he touched the 4-year-old boy's genitals several different times after the boy arrived in his class in September, according to a police report in Ammon's court file.
On Tuesday, prosecutors filed two felony charges against Ammon of committing a lewd act on a child under 14 years old.
The boy told police that Ammon, of Upland, touched him inappropriately in the school's bathroom and in the classroom as well, the police report said.
The boy also told investigators that Ammon molested other kids in his class.
Ammon told police there were no additional victims, the police report said.
Ammon was arrested by Upland police on Friday and remained jailed Wednesday at West Valley Detention Center in lieu of $500,000 bail.
He is scheduled to next appear in court on Tuesday.
The boy's mother told police that on Thursday, she was sitting at home with her son watching TV and she had a spontaneous urge to talk to the boy about the difference between "a good touch and a bad touch."
She told police that after she explained the difference, the boy said: "Mr. Garrett touched me. You have to talk to him and tell him to stop touching me."
After police arrested Ammon Friday, he told officers he had been working as a child-care teacher for the past 9 years at various businesses.
He admitted to touching the boy's genitals on at least seven different occasions -- in the classroom and in the school's bathroom.
"I was curious, but I knew it would end up bad and knew it was wrong," Ammon told the officer, according to the report.
He said he tickled other children, but denied touching other children inappropriately, according to the report.
LeeAnn Faucett, executive director of the YMCA, said YMCA officials are working closely with Upland police and parents to ensure that both the integrity of investigation is preserved and the parents' fears are allayed.
"At this point we are cooperating fully with the police department," Faucett said. "We had a parent meeting (Tuesday) night and we are working with the parents. Our first priority is for the well-being and safety of our children."
Faucett said Ammon underwent a strenuous background check before he was hired.
"We here at the YMCA have a very strict hiring policy," she said. "There are 30 steps that an employee has to go through."
These include fingerprinting and a criminal background check, she said.
"As a child care employee there are an additional eight they have to go through. All steps were followed and were exemplary."
Staff Writer Jannise Johnson contributed to this report.
I am sickened by this man and am not proud of the way the YMCA has handled the situation. This man was my child's teacher, and I am sickened. My heart goes out to the known victim, all the other potential victims and their families.
Where is the outrage people ???
I am so sorry to hear another pedophile had access to these young, innocent, trusting children. How could this preschool allow this man access to these children without any other supervision? How did this school's policy of having a male teacher full access without any other adult in the room with these young children? This is not this mans first victim. This is just the first time he was caught doing this horrible act. Pedophiles do not get better.. There is no cure for them.
How is this school helping the parents and victims in the aftermath of this traumatic event? Offering psychological help I hope..
I think there are a lot of questions to be answerd by the school and a change in their policy.
POOR KIDS BUT IM SURE WHEN HE GETS TO PRISON HE'LL BE TOUCHED TOO. IF HES NOT KILLED FIRST! THE FAMILYS IN OUR PRAYERS...
What a tragic situation. There is only one evil party in this story and that is the abuser. The children, parents and YMCA are all victims. I have complete confidence in the YMCA and their policies and procedures and appreciate the way this report was handled immediately and aggressively. It's not fair to blame the Y any more than it would be to blame the parents for not keeping their kids at home instead of daycare. Let's keep the focus on the criminal, not the victims.
HE'S SICK !!!!!!
WHY IS THERE NO MONITORING OF THE TEACHERS?? AREN'T THERE ENOUGH TEACHERS ON STAFF. THERE SHOULD BE TWO TEACHERS WITH STUDENTS AT ALL TIMES AND THIS INCLUDES BATHROOM VISITS. IF THE CHILDREN ARE NOT PROTECTED BY SICK PEDOPHILES THE YMCA SHOULD CLOSE ITS DOORS. I AGREE. WHERE IS THE OUTRAGE??????