The case against a local elementary school teacher accused of sexually assaulting students continues to grow, as prosecutors added a fourth young girl to the list of alleged victims this month.
John Loyd, 52 of Hollister, appeared for a brief hearing at South County Courthouse on Thursday for the case in which he is now accused of molesting four juvenile girls.
Loyd has been on administrative leave from his fifth-grade teaching job at Paradise Valley Elementary School in southwest Morgan Hill since his arrest Oct. 2. Morgan Hill police arrested him that evening after the first victim, a student at the same school, told a school staff member that Loyd made inappropriate contact with her in his classroom, according to authorities.
At almost every hearing since his arraignment Oct. 7, prosecutors have added an additional victim to the charges against him. The fourth and latest victim to be added to the case was molested by Loyd while he was teaching at Nordstrom Elementary School more than six years ago, according to Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Tim McInerney.
Loyd has taught in Morgan Hill Unified School District since 2000. He taught first at Nordstrom, and was transferred to Paradise Valley in 2008. MHUSD staff have said the reason for that transfer was to correct miscalculated staffing levels at the beginning of the school year.
MHUSD staff have also said that Loyd’s personnel file before his arrest contained no blemishes, and the teacher has not been the subject of any formal or informal complaints that are similar to the criminal charges against him now.
McInerney called the victims “four very brave little girls” for their willingness to report Loyd’s conduct toward them. With the latest victim recounting her contact with Loyd several years ago, McInerney said it remains important for other potential victims to come forward to police.
“We’re encouraging anyone who had inappropriate contact with him to contact the Morgan Hill Police Department,” McInerney said.
Loyd remains in custody in Santa Clara County Jail on no bail. He is charged with multiple counts of lewd and lascivious acts toward a child. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.
Loyd, who appeared unshaven and with longer hair since his arrest, stood briefly in court while attorneys and the judge agreed to continue the Nov. 13 hearing.
Loyd’s next court proceeding to set a preliminary hearing date will be Jan. 8, 2015 at the South County Courthouse.
