Teacher accused of sex with student pleads not guilty

CHINO -- A former science teacher at Chino Hills High School pleaded not guilty today to charges that he had a sexual relationship with an underage girl.

John Ralph Hirsch, 40, is charged with six felonies and a misdemeanor for his alleged relationship with the 14-year-old girl, which according to prosecutors lasted from Aug. 31, 2009 to June 4.

The charges include two counts of lewd act upon a child, two counts of oral copulation of a person under 16, two counts of unlawful sexual intercourse, and one count of child molesting (a misdemeanor).

On June 3, one of the girl's neighbors saw Hirsch use a ladder to enter the girl's second-story bedroom, according to San Bernardino County sheriff's officials.

When he was confronted by the neighbor, Hirsch fled the area carrying the ladder. He was arrested the following day at Chino Hills High School and subsequently resigned.

Hirsch, of Ontario, is free on $150,000 bail and is next due in Chino Superior Court Dec. 16.