Editors’ note: The following article discusses sexual crimes that may be disturbing to some readers. Discretion is advised. Students who are struggling with these events or the coverage of them should speak to a school counselor. 

Former Arden Middle School teacher Glenn Alejandrino was sentenced today in Sacramento Superior Court to five years in prison for sexual abuse of minors.

Additionally, Superior Court Judge Kenneth Brody sentenced Alejandrino, 50, to register as a sex offender and to pay restitution to the victims and state.

In handing down his sentence, Brody said Alejandrino had abused his “position of trust with vulnerable students.”

Alejandrino pleaded guilty to three felony charges on Sept. 8, two counts of lewd and lascivious acts with children under 14 and one count of contacting a minor with the intent of engaging in lewd behavior. This resulted in a plea deal that removed seven felonies and two misdemeanors he had also been charged with when he was arrested July 19, 2022.

The crimes occurred from 2019 to 2021 while he was a science, student government, and sex ed teacher at Arden, according to a statement from Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department.

Alejandrino invited students to his home where he distributed marijuana, alcohol, pornography, and sex toys, the District Attorney’s office said in a statement.

“Alejandrino also allowed his students to engage in sexual intercourse at his house, without the knowledge of their parents. On at least 20 occasions, Alejandrino provided one student with a sex toy and directed that student to perform sex acts on themselves,” the statement read.

Alejandrino did not appear to show emotion at the sentencing. “I am sorry for the hurt and pain and anger I’ve caused,” Alejandrino said in a brief statement.

None of Alejandrino’s victims attended the sentencing, but some made written statements that were sealed by the court.

Several of his former students told the Mirada that he was a popular and highly regarded teacher. 

(The Mirada will not use the names of any of his former students that were interviewed in order to protect their anonymity.)

Alejandrino was the subject of a Distance Learning Shout Out video on the San Juan Unified district YouTube page for his work with the Arden student government during the Covid school shutdown.

However, multiple students said he was subject to bouts of anger and played favorites.

“He would always have large mood swings all the time,” one of his former students said. “He was either euphorically happy or extremely angry and belligerent.”

A different student described a time that Alejandrino threw a stack of papers at them.

Another student shared text messages between themself and Alejandrino that were suggestive and inappropriate.

Alejandrino began working in San Juan Unified in 1996, later transferring to Arden Middle School in 2013.

“We are in the process of completing the termination process with [Alejandrino],” San Juan Unified Director of Communication Raj Rai told the Mirada.

He was on paid leave from November 2021 through June 2022 during an investigation of his actions, but that became unpaid leave following his arrest, Rai said.

The district did not comment on if there were any previous complaints against him.

“Student and staff safety is a top priority for our district, and making sure students have a comfortable environment where they have trusted adults around them supporting their education and success and learning is why we operate,” Rai said.

Arden is a main feeder school to Rio and several of Alejandrino’s former students are at this school.

“When he pleaded guilty, I was relieved because I know he needed to be locked up but I was a little bit disappointed when I heard that the max sentence would be five years, because he deserves a lot more than that,” another former student of his said. “I just don’t think it’s fair to the victims who had someone in authority do that to them and then get away on a short term.”

Counseling is available for students who may need support or wish to speak to someone about the events. Please speak to a Rio counselor for support.