SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Prosecutors say there's videotaped evidence in the sexual molestation case against a Santa Monica middle school teacher. "In the search warrant that was executed in this case we found the actual videos taken by Mr. Beltran," prosecutor Deputy District Attorney Robin Sax Katzenstein told Judge Keith Schwartz.

"Here we have a case where virtually every female student that has come into contact with the defendant has had some sort of inappropriate touching, even by the defendant's own admission of being a huggy, touchy kind of person," the prosecutor said.

Outside court, the prosecutor described the video as "helping our investigation and corroborating some of the charges in this case."

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Thomas Arthur Beltran, 60, has been charged with molesting five girls. The judge hiked his bail to more than $3 million on Tuesday, after Beltran pleaded not guilty to 14 criminal counts, including lewd acts on a child. Thomas Arthur Beltran, 60, was arrested Saturday, a day after a 12-year-old girl at Lincoln Middle School, located at 1501 E. California St., told her parents that Beltran had molested her, according to Santa Monica police.

Beltran teaches English as a second language and has been at the school for 20 years.

Notices to parents were sent out Monday with information about the case.

Video

"Santa Monica police detectives received information that a 12-year-old Lincoln Middle School student was the victim of repeated sexual assaults by her teacher in the classroom," said Santa Monica police Lt. Dan Salerno.

Investigators later found three other girls who made similar complaints. The alleged victims are all seventh grade girls.

"We have identified a total of four victims and believe there might be more," Salerno said. "I would encourage anyone with information about the suspect or the investigation, regardless of when it occurred, to contact the Santa Monica Police Department."

Beltran was ordered to remain jailed in lieu of $3.3 million bail pending his next court appearance on June 6, when a date is scheduled to be set for a hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to require him to stand trial.

Beltran was charged with eight counts of committing a lewd act on a child and three counts each of continuous sexual abuse and sexual penetration of a foreign object on a child under 14, said Deputy District Attorney Robin Sax Katzenstein.

He faces up to life in prison if convicted. Beltran, a seventh grade teacher of English as a second language, has been with the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District for 30 years and been teaching at Lincoln for about 20 years.

In addition to the notice from the school district, a meeting for parents was Monday evening at the school. Counselors were available for students during the school day.

School officials faced worried parents and tough questions at the meeting.

Among the questions asked of officials was the question of what the screening process during hiring entails.

Assistant Superintendent Mike Matthews said no one is hired until fingerprints are cleared.

Former student Sherri Sheshepri said she was in shock at hearing the allegations against the teacher.

Other questions included why a teacher and student would be alone together in a classroom.

Principal Tristan Komlos said teachers are encouraged to keep an open door to students.

"I am just absolutely shocked -- I'm sickened," said parent Lisette Bauersachs. "I couldn't sleep last night."

District Superintendent Dianne Talarico also issued a statement saying student safety is the district's highest priority.

Some parents and students expressed disbelief that the well-regarded teacher was a sex offender, calling him a "nice guy" with a stellar reputation.

Beltran has been married for 35 years. His only child, Jennifer, also became a middle school teacher in Northern California; she died of cancer four years ago, at the age of 30, The Times reported.

Jennifer's widower, George Lopez, 33, told The Times he was shocked to hear that Beltran had been arrested. He said Beltran was family-oriented, loved photography and was "a great all-around person."

"Very, very difficult to believe," Lopez said. "I mean, he's been the least likely person I could think of, of everybody that I know that is in a position like that, who would do something like that."

Students spoke Monday on campus with KNBC's Furnell Chatman.

"It's pretty disturbing, if it is true," said student Jesse Mark. "I doubt it is. I trust all the Lincoln teachers. They're all very nice."

"I personally don't believe it -- but that's because I'm in shock," said former student Sherri Sheshepri. "I don't know if it's true or not, but I guess we'll find out."

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