Former Ralston Custodian Will Stand Trial

A jury trial date has been set for Andre Edwards, the former Ralston Middle School custodian a Ralston Middle School students. He is charged with two counts of committing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14.

In April, Edwards appeared at a San Mateo County Superior Court arraignment before Judge Craig Parsons where he pleaded not guilty to the charges, and time for trial was waived.

According to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office, the case has been set for jury trial on August 20, 2012 at 8:45 a.m.; a pretrial conference was set for June 25, 2012 at 1:30 p.m.

Edwards, 53, was  arrested March 17, 2011 following a four-month-long investigation by the that stemmed from a female student's reports that Edwards inappropriately touched her in November 2010.

It was the second time a student had accused Edwards of such behavior; in 2001, Edwards allegedly put his hands down the pants of a 13-year-old girl and touched her genital area, according to the district attorney's office.

That girl also reported the incident, but the case was not prosecuted due to lack of corroboration. Edwards was told, however, to not be alone with any students in his janitor office.

Edwards remains out of custody and from $200,000 to $50,000. Edwards' defense attorney is Eric Hove. He retired from the on Feb. 28, 2011 where he had been employed since September 1987.

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