SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Flanked by his daughters and tightly holding hands with his wife, a principal under investigation for allegations of child molestation at a Northern California private school vigorously denied wrongdoing Wednesday, declaring at a news conference, "I am innocent."
In his first public statement since authorities shut down Creative Frontiers School in the Sacramento suburb of Citrus Heights on Monday, Robert Adams said he was "sad, mostly for the trauma this has created."
"But I assure you, I am very confident that nothing inappropriate has happened," he said.
The state and police are investigating Adams after reports that he inappropriately touched female students over a 15-year period.
"I want to thank the many supporters that have come forward during this difficult time," Adams said. "I am shocked at the allegations that were made against me and the school, but I welcome a full investigation."
His attorney, Linda Parisi, said they are disappointed by the way the investigation has been handled. Parents were met by armed officers when they went to pick up their children from daycare when the school was abruptly shut down.
The allegations against Adams were contained in a complaint filed this week by the California Department of Social Services, which revoked his daycare license.
Adams has not been arrested, and authorities have not said when or if they intend to file charges.
The complaint alleged Adams touched young girls under their shirts and down their pants. It went on to say he would "seclude female children under a computer desk and lie down with them on a mat in his office."
The complaint also accuses office administrator Cynthia Higgins of being aware of some of the allegations and failing to report them to authorities. A former receptionist, Irma Mertens, told The Sacramento Bee she made five calls to the state before investigators took her complaint seriously.
Parisi said Wednesday the complaint was made after a volunteer employee learned she would not be receiving an application for full-time employment.
"I find it interesting, the timing of this," Parisi said. "We are confident that whatever claims she's made, there's no foundation to them."
Attempts by The Associated Press to reach Mertens on Wednesday were unsuccessful. Reached by phone, Higgins made one statement before hanging up: "I regret what happened, this is a travesty, and we're more concerned about the kids."
Mertens said in the complaint that she saw Adams slip his hand under the bathing suit of a female student.
Parisi said Adams works in a highly regulated industry where the safety of the children is paramount. Any investigation, she said, will prove the accusations are unfounded.
Parisi added Higgins never reported the accusations because they never happened.