A middle school teacher in Sherman Oaks, Kareen Spann, 46, pleaded not guilty to charges related to alleged misconduct with two students. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office has charged Spann with one felony count of lewd act on a child and one misdemeanor count of child molesting.
According to investigators, Spann, an eighth-grade teacher at Louis Armstrong Middle School, allegedly engaged in inappropriate communication with a student in April, leading to grooming behaviors. The grooming escalated to include inappropriate and unlawful touching, as stated by the District Attorney’s Office. The second charge involves a separate child and reportedly occurred during lunchtime on school property in April.
The Los Angeles Police Department is currently investigating the case, urging any potential victims to contact law enforcement at 818-374-5415, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
District Attorney George Gascón emphasized the importance of protecting vulnerable students, stating that children should feel safe and secure in their environment. He expressed his disgust at these crimes, referring to them as a violation of trust.
The current status of Spann’s employment with the school remains unclear. Spann is scheduled to appear in court on June 21 in Van Nuys.
