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MORGAN HILL, Calif. (KTVU) – A longtime Morgan Hill schoolteacher who is accused of molesting four of his 5th grade students in his classroom took a plea deal Monday.
Fifty-three-year-old John Loyd took the plea deal, pleading guilty to four counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child. All of the victims said to be under the age of 14.
"The victims’ families are relieved they will not have to testify and be further traumatized," said Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Tim McInerny.
The deal comes nine months after Loyd was arrested at Paradise Valley Elementary School.
Court documents reveal a female student had accused Loyd of inappropriately touching her while the two were alone in his classroom. Three other girls had similar allegations. One of the students was from his teaching days at a different school Nordstrom Elementary School.
"My client obviously did something wrong, very wrong," said Defense Attorney Larry Biegel. "He's accepted responsibility for it. I think there's a psychological condition that pointed him in that direction."
Under the deal, Loyd agreed to a 40 year sentence in state prison. He will not be eligible for parole. Otherwise, Loyd was facing several counts that carried life sentences.
"I calculate he'll be released when he's maybe 83 but a lot of white males don't live to be 83," said Biegel.
Biegel said Loyd hopes the deal will help the victims move forward.
"I think that he's trying to make it look like he's a caring individual but caring individuals don't molest little girls," said Parent Karen Fitch.
Fitch has a child who attends Paradise Elementary. She's been at every one of Loyd's court appearances. She said justice prevailed as much as it could.
"It's a terrible situation," said Fitch. "I don't know if wrongs like this can really be righted."
Loyd is set to be formally sentenced on September 21, where his victims will have a chance to provide statements to the judge.