Ed. Note: The following is a news release provided by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office. 

A Castaic Elementary School teacher charged with four counts of child molestation was  arraigned Tuesday morning and pleaded not guilty, District Attorney’s officials said.

Joshua Mark Levine 43, of Canyon Country, has been charged with four counts of child molesting, according to a news release. Levine is expected to be arraigned in Department 2 at the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Santa Clarita Branch.

Prosecutors are asking bail be set at $80,000.

Prosecutors said Levine reportedly engaged in inappropriate behavior with four female students on school grounds in the 2014 – 2015 school year.

If convicted as charged, the defendant faces a possible maximum sentence of four years in county jail.

The case is being investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.

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Special Victims Bureau detectives began their investigation April 16, after they were given reports about the  inappropriate touching of four female students, by their teacher, while inside a classroom at Castaic Elementary School.

During the investigation, detectives conducted several interviews of children who attend Castaic Elementary School, as well as other employees at the school.

According to the California Penal Code: “Every person who annoys or molests any child under 18 years of age shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000), by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by both the fine and imprisonment.”

Due to the suspect’s employment as a school teacher, Detectives believe there may additional children who may have been victimized by the suspect.  Anyone who may have additional information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Sheriff’s Department Special Victims Bureau at (877) 710-5273.