Many gather at courthouse to support teacher accused of molesting three students

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Saturday, March 30, 2019
Clovis Unified teacher accused of molesting three students makes first court appearance
TEACHER ON TRIAL: The longtime foreign language teacher remains on leave from Clovis Unified since mid-December.

FRESNO, California -- Kenneth Lee denies he did anything wrong.

The 50-year-old made a brief court appearance on Wednesday after three Clovis East students say Lee molested them inside of his classroom.

Lee's defense attorney Roger Nuttall calls the allegations against his client completely false and do not represent his character.

"Teachers in the climate with the way students are now are sitting ducks for false accusations, and I see it all the time," Nuttall said.

Lee, a longtime teacher in Clovis Unified, was joined by a few dozen supporters for his arraignment at the Fresno County courthouse.

"There must've been 50 plus people here on his behalf. Former students, current students, family members, friends who all support him," Nuttall said.

A female student was the first to report Lee's alleged crimes to Clovis East staff back in December.

Since then Clovis Police say two more female students have come forward, accusing Lee of inappropriate touching inside the classroom.

"Three separate occasions, three separate students. There were more than three occasions. With the first victim there were actually a few different occasions," said Sgt. Jim Munro.

Kenneth Lee is due back in court April 29.

Investigators are requesting anyone with information about any other victims to contact Clovis Police.