A Redondo Union High School teacher accused of exposing himself to a 16-year-old student and engaging in a sexual act in her presence has agreed to pay restitution to the girl and two other victims. A court hearing on Tuesday stayed the matter as a settlement amount is negotiated.
In October, the teacher, Louis Jay Haddad, 50, plead guilty to lewd conduct. He faced other potential charges, including molesting a child, stemming from an incident last Dec. 3 in which he met with the student alone in his classroom and then allegedly began talking about sexual matters and engaging in a personal sex act. The girl immediately reported him, and two other alleged victims also subsequently came forward.
Under terms of a plea deal reached with City Prosecutor Brenda Wells, Haddad resigned from his position at the high school and surrendered his teaching credential. Additionally, Haddad will undergo counseling, give 480 hours of “beach cleanup” community service, and pay $2,100 in fines. He will not, however, be required to register as a sex offender and no longer faces child molestation charges that included as much as 42 months in jail.
Wells said the victim and her family were satisfied with the terms. The girl, who has since transferred to another school, has struggled since the incident. Wells said the agreement with Haddad has helped her to move forward.
“It had a really serious impact on her,” Wells said. “Her mom spoke at the sentencing and it was very emotional and tearful because of the impacts it has had on her and her family and their lives. I think that justice was served because in this case they are able to put it behind them and move forward with the confidence that he isn’t going to be able to teach and victimize anyone else in the future.”
In a “statement of impact” submitted in court, the girl directly addressed her former teacher.
“Through all of this I have learned that one in every four girls will be the victim of a sexual assault in their lifetime,” she wrote. “Unfortunately, I am a statistic, but that does not defeat me. You may have kicked me down for a short while but you will never break me. I am stronger than you will ever be and have more heart than you will ever have. Louis Jay Haddad, in the end you know what you did on December 3, 2009. I am sure you will never truly realize all that you have put me, my family, and other girls through. And nor do I expect you to. I do not hate you, but I hate with all my soul the monster inside of you.
“My final wish is for everyone, including you, Mr. Haddad to find peace at the end of this dark tunnel.” ER
