UPDATE: School Janitor Accused in Lewd Act at Germain Elementary Had Police Rap Sheet, Officers Say

A 37-year-old janitor, arrested in connection with alleged lewd conduct with a student, had a police rap sheet, officers said Monday.

had been arrested for grand theft auto, burglary and other offenses, but the only conviction was misdemeanor “driving without an owner’s consent.”

He is scheduled to appear Feb. 27, on his 38^th birthday, at Los Angeles Superior Court in San Fernando.

• Previous Story: Janitor at Germain School Booked for Alleged Lewd Act on a Child

Adame, a nearly 12-year LAUSD employee, previously worked at Calahan Elementary for seven years. "(We) don’t have a record before that," wrote LAUSD spokesman Thomas Walden in an e-mail to Chatsworth Patch late Monday afternoon.

LAUSD school board member Tamar Galatzan, who represents Chatsworth, issued a statement to the Daily News about Adame's arrest.

"I'm disgusted by the allegations," she said. I applaud law enforcement, school police and the school for responding immediately. This is now in the hands of law enforcement."

The arrest came as a shock to parents who knew Adame as a school mainstay.

Dawn Smith, mother of a fourth grader, said Adame was a huge part of the school.

“School isn’t all about learning, it’s also about fun. (Adame) would set up tables outside for fun events,” Smith said. “He was there to help us. It’s all a little surprising.”

Adame allegedly engaged in inappropriate contact with an unidentified student on Feb. 3. The student’s parent contacted police on Sunday with the allegations.

Adame was booked and released on $100,000 bail, police said.

Police did not know who posted the bail.

This is the third LAUSD employee in recent days to be arrested in connection with sexually related crimes involving students.

Thirty-year LAUSD teacher Mark Berndt, 61, has been charged with 23 lewd acts and Martin Bernard Springer, 49, of Alhambra, is accused of fondling two former female students in a classroom at Miramonte Elementary School in South Los Angeles where they both worked. Berndt, who is charged with abusing children between 2005 and 2011, is being held in lieu of $23 million bail -- $1 million per alleged victim -- and scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 21 at the Metropolitan Branch Courthouse.

• Update: From principals to teachers to custodians: All staff at Miramonte Elementary School to be replaced

Springer is being held on $2 million bail after being arrested as he emerged from a school building at 107th Street and Western Avenue. The allegations against him involve girls who were about 7 years old when they were "allegedly fondled in a classroom" sometime in the past three years, according to Sheriff's Capt. Mike Parker.

Adame transferred to Germain at the beginning of the school year, according to parents. He replaced a long-time female janitor who worked at the school nearly 30 years.

“Last year we were fighting to keep her job. Then, she retired,” a parent said on Monday.

Parent Brett Feinstein said that when she learned about the arrest she wanted to rush to the school and be with her daughter.

“The kids loved Paul. They said he was great and cool,” Feinstein said.

Parent Kelly McDonough said he was concerned by the arrest.

“Cameras in the classroom are a very good idea,” said McDonough, who has a second grader at Germain.

LAUSD Police Lt. Jose Santome said Adame was placed on paid administrative leave until the criminal investigation is completed.

Police said this is the first incident of this magnitude at Germain.

The Devonshire LAPD's sexual assault unit took over the case and was assisted by Los Angeles School Police.

Authorities are not releasing the name, age, grade or location in the school where the alleged incident occurred to protect the child and the ongoing investigation.

Devonshire Capt. Kris Pitcher said the alleged incident happened during school hours.

“Detectives are requesting the parents of any child who attends Germain Street Elementary School who has either been approached by this individual, or has been told of or witnessed any inappropriate contact with any other individual at the school to speak with their children, find out the information, and ultimately give us a call,” Pitcher said.

Monica Carazo, a spokeswoman for the school district, said Adame has been employed by the district since October 2000 and worked at Germain since December 2010. Carazo is researching the district’s policy on employees with misdemeanor convictions and the effect on their employment status.

In a letter to parents, Germain principal Sonia Ugarte said school officials “take these allegations very seriously and will fully cooperate with the police investigation.”

Anyone with information can call the Devonshire Sexual Assault Unit at 818-832-0609; 887-LAPD-24-7; or Crime Stoppers, an anonymous hotline at 800-222-TIPS.