COMPTON – A former Compton teacher pleaded no contest today to molesting two young female students while he was assigned to Foster Elementary School, the District Attorney’s office announced.
Ronald Sture Hoppe, 46, pleaded no contest before Judge Patrick Connolly to two felony counts of lewd acts on a child and two amended counts of misdemeanor lewd conduct, said Deputy District Attorney Adrian Roxas.
The plea was entered just as jury selection was set to begin for his retrial. A jury in 2010 voted 6-6 on two counts of lewd acts and a mistrial was declared. Roxas said he was initially charged with molesting three students, but charges were dropped involving the third girl.
As part of the plea, Hoppe agreed to complete 52 weeks of sex offender classes. He also is barred from having any contact with minor children other than his family members with an adult present. Hoppe also is barred from seeking employment with any schools or any type of services involving children, including daycare and tutoring.
Roxas said sentencing was put over for 36 months. If Hoppe successfully completes the terms of the plea, he will be sentenced on the misdemeanors and the two felonies will be dismissed. If he fails to successfully complete the terms, he will be sentenced to six years in state prison.
The Diamond Bar resident groped the first student during the 2005-2006 school year and the second victim the following year.
Both victims were between eight and nine years old at the time of the incidents.