43-year-old Neng Yang was arraigned Wednesday. Yang entered a not guilty plea in the state case against him and bail was set at $4.5 million. The Freedom Elementary Teacher is facing 45 felony charges, for allegedly molesting one of his second grade students. According to the disturbing criminal complaint the molestation happened on four different days last month and in December.
“Shocking heart breaking news that affects us personally as well as professionally,” said Kelly Avants a spokesperson for Clovis Unified School District.
Following Yang’s court appearance the Clovis Unified School Board had a meeting to talk about his employment with the district.
“Approved a resolution adopting charges for the dismissal and immediate suspension without pay of a certificated employee,” said Jim Van Volkinburg, the Board President.
This is the first step to try to fire yang. Now yang has 30 days to request a hearing before the board can move forward. Yang has been a teacher at Freedom Elementary for four years and has been with CUSD since 1993.
He is facing state and federal charges that could result in a 15 year to life sentence if he is convicted.
“The federal charges have to do with his actually making a film of what happened, and then the state charges are actually the acts of molestation,” said CBS47’s Legal Analyst, Carl Faller, a former Federal Prosecutor.
According to CUSD today’s decision by the school board, will result in the automatic suspension of yang's teaching credential, ensuring he'll never teach again.
The Clovis Police Department is still investigating the possibility of other victims.
Yang’s wife, Kia Yang, the Principal at Miramonte Elementary is taking personal leave. “That is not action that the district has taken at all, and i believe clovis police department has been very clear with the district that she is not being considered a person of interest,” said Avants.
Yang will be in Federal Court Thursday, he has not entered a plea in the federal case. A pre-preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 8th in the state case.
