Alvarado Elementary School third-grade teacher Michael Howey, accused to molesting young children, allegedly isolated his third-grade female students at recess to gve them "long hugs," rub their bellies, and "kiss them on the mouth."
Howey allegedly molested his students in both his classroom and during recess. In a lengthy, harrowing report, Oakland Tribune notes:
The victims told police their teacher kissed them on the lips, nose, forehead and neck during recess, called them cute and stylish and would compliment their hair, clothing and ponytails, court records show. A few victims said he put his hands under their clothing or touched their buttocks as they sat face forward on his lap, the affidavit shows.One victim told police that her teacher had a "cutiest (sic) girl list and a goodiest (sic) girl list."One victim, when interviewed, cried when she said her teacher kissed her lips and forehead and that "she felt like it happened every day." She told officers that sometime after spring break, her teacher pulled her aside, praised her for a good test score and then kissed her lips during recess, court records show. The girl said she ran outside to get away.
Howey initially told investigators that he never hurt anyone, that he only comforted a young girl who was crying after failing a test. However, when a detective later told him that the investigation involves more than one girl, he "hung his head, cried and 'admitted he had made some mistakes.' "
Arrested May 1 without at his home in Alameda, he was whisked to Santa Rita Jail. He has been charged with "17 counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 and 23 counts of annoying and molesting a child."
Howey worked for the district for 14 years. He is now on "paid administrative leave." According to Mercury News, he had no prior disciplinary action.
