Teacher Acquitted in Molestation Case

A Maywood first-grade teacher was acquitted Tuesday of charges that he molested seven children in his classroom.

A Los Angeles Superior Court jury in Norwalk acquitted Stanley Komae, 38, after deliberating three days. Komae, a teacher at Heliotrope Elementary School, had been charged with 30 counts of molestation during the 1986-87 and 1988-89 school years.

Komae, who has been on unpaid leave, said his acquittal “was a tremendous relief from a long 10-month burden.” He said he will not return to Heliotrope and has not made a decision about returning to teaching.