A former North Los Angeles County juvenile hall therapist pleaded not guilty Monday, after being ordered to stand trial for sexual misconduct with a 16-year-old boy, officials said.
Ana Patricia Moennich, 37, faces charges of one felony count each of contact with minor for sexual offense and oral copulation of a person under 18, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office announced.
Moennich worked as a therapist at Camp Mendenhall, a juvenile camp in Lake Hughes, where the victim served a juvenile sentence, the prosecutor said.
Moennich is charged with having sexual relations with the teen between April 27, 2013, and Nov. 22 that same year, while he attended therapy sessions.
The case against Moennich also includes a misdemeanor count of child molesting.
She pleaded not guilty to the charges today after being held to answer on all counts Sept. 23.
A Nov. 4 pretrial hearing is scheduled for Department A20 of the Los Angeles County Superior Court, Antelope Valley Branch.
If convicted as charged, the defendant faces up to six years in state prison.
The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
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