Former Teacher Gets 25 Years for Molesting Students

A former teacher at a Pacoima elementary school who continued to work in Los Angeles Unified schools despite several red flags was sentenced Thursday to 25 years in prison after he admitted molesting 13 students.

In letters read to Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Lloyd Nash, the parents of three victims explained how third-grade teacher Paul Chapel lured the Telfair Elementary School children before molesting them.

One mother, identified as Darlene, wrote that Chapel "personally requested" her son to be in his class. "At the time, I thought it was because he was concerned and cared about my son's education and academic placement. I never once thought it was a setup for him to prey on my son!" according to the letter read by Deputy Dist. Atty. Elena Abramson.

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