Alhambra resident arrested in school abuse scandal released from jail after posting bond *UPDATE

An Alhambra resident and Miramonte teacher charged with lewd acts against children was released from jail early Friday on bond, multiple news outlets are reporting.  Martin Springer, 49, reportedly posted $300,000 bond, must wear a tracking ankle bracelet and stay 250 feet from schools and parks. He's due back in court February 16, according to the Pasadena Star-News, and if charged faces up to 12 years in prison.

Springer, a second grade teacher, was arrested Friday after two girls alleged that he fondled him. The charges filed Tuesday are only based on one girl, according to the Los Angeles Times.

2.09.2012

One of two girls who alleged that an Alhambra resident who teaches at Miramonte school had fondled her recanted her story, according to the Los Angeles Times. The paper cites unspecified law enforcement sources. In an editorial about the school sex abuse scandal and need to respond, the paper notes that this is also  "a reminder that it's hard to know in the immediate tumult that follows such situations which charges will stick and which will disappear."

2.07.2012

Police charged Alhambra resident Martin Springer, 49, with three felony counts of committing lewd acts upon a child on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times reports.  

Springer was taken into custody last Friday, three days after L.A. prosecutors accused former teacher Mark Berndt of bizarre acts that have generated national outrage.

The charges against Springer, a second-grade teacher from Alhambra, come from two students he allegedly touched improperly within the last three years, though the charges announced Tuesday relate only to one of his alleged victims. Springer faces a maximum sentence of 12 years in prison, district attorney's spokeswoman Sandi Gibbons said.

*Updated 2.06.2012

Neighbors expressed surpise about allegations that an Alhambra man arrested Friday morning in a South Los Angeles school sex scandal. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau investigators arrested second-grade teacher Martin Springer, 49, as a second suspect in a school sex scandal in Miramonte after two students said he improperly touched them.

Gabriel Urrutia, 40, told the Los Angeles Times that he grew up with Springer "in a quiet Alhambra neighborhood."

Urrutia explained that Springer moved back into his mother's home after she died, where he lived alone keeping mostly to himself.

"I've never seen him with children ... he is always by himself, " Urrutia told the Los Angeles Times. "I can't believe he was arrested."
 

2.3.2012

An Alhambra man was arrested Friday morning as a second suspect in the sex abuse scandal at Mirmanonte school in South Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Special Victims Bureau investigators arrested Martin Springer, 49, following a request for public information on Thursday morning.

Springer was charged with Lewd Acts Upon a Child and booked at the Inmate Reception Center of the Los Angeles County jail. His bail is set at $2 million.

More from the Sheriff's Department Press release:

The allegations involve two girls who were allegedly fondled in the classroom at Miramonte school by Suspect Springer. They were approximately 7-years old at the time of the incidents, which were alleged to have occurred during the past three years. The investigation is continuing.

This case will be presented to the Office of the Los Angeles County District Attorney for consideration for filing of felony charges of Lewd Acts Upon a Child, by Tuesday morning.

We anticipated, as often occurs in cases like this, that more information and potential victims come forward. Sheriff Baca understands the public’s concern about this and has dedicated the necessary resources to thoroughly investigate all the information that we have received and will receive.

Sheriff's Special Victims Bureau investigators are seeking the help of the public to identify possible additional victims during the suspect’s tenure at Miramonte Elementary School.

Special Victims Unit detectives can be contacted at 877-710-5273, or tips can be left anonymously be calling L.A. Crimestoppers at 800-222-8477.