A teacher at an elementary school in Riverside was arrested on suspicion of committing sex crimes against a child on Wednesday, Feb. 12, after a former summer school student accused him of abuse, the Riverside Police Department said.
Hector Edward Zaldivar, 53, of Ontario, teaches fourth grade at Terrace Elementary in the Alvord Unified School District. He has been placed on administrative leave, Superintendent Resma Byrne said in a written statement.
The investigation began on Feb. 11 when a girl said Zaldivar molested her in June 2022, the Riverside Police Department said in a news release. Zaldivar was booked into Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside on suspicion of lewd and lascivious acts upon a child under 14 using force and digital penetration, both felonies, the county jail log shows.
Zaldivar remained in custody on Friday in lieu of $1 million bail. He had not been charged as of Friday afternoon, according to Superior Court records.
“We understand that this news is deeply troubling, and we remain committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all students,” Byrne said. “We encourage parents to have open conversations with their children and reach out if they need guidance or support. Counseling services are available for students and staff, and we urge anyone in need of assistance to contact their child’s teacher or site administrator.”
Police ask anyone with information on the case to contact Detective Steven Espinosa at 951-353-7120 or SEspinosa@RiversideCA.gov. Information may be sent anonymously through the department’s Atlas 1 mobile app’s messaging feature. The app is available on Apple and Android devices.
