The former custodian of molesting two female students pleaded not guilty in San Mateo County Superior Court on Friday.
Andre Edwards, 52, was expected to enter his plea on Monday but his defense attorney Eric Hove advanced the court hearing to Friday, according to the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office.
The case was continued to May 26 when a date will be set for Edwards' preliminary hearing. He's charged with two counts of committing lewd or lascivious acts on a child under 14.
Edwards remains out of custody on a $200,000 bail bond, which he at about 1:45 a.m. on March 18, the morning after he was arrested following a four-month-long investigation by the that stemmed from a female student's reports that Edwards inappropriately touched her.
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, 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, who retired from the on Feb. 28 where he had been employed since September 1987, has denied the claims.
A call to Edwards' attorney was not immediately returned.
http://belmont-ca.patch.com/articles/former-ralston-school-custodian-arrested-for-allegedly-molesting-student