School worker charged with lewd conduct

Nueva School in San Mateo. Photo from the Devcon Construction website.

BY EMILY MIBACH
Daily Post Staff Writer

A Redwood City man who worked at the Nueva School in San Mateo was  charged yesterday (Jan. 19) with multiple counts of felony lewd conduct with a child, a prosecutor said.

Ian Thomas Whiteman, 39, is accused of having a relationship with a 14-year-old student of the school, located at 131 E. 28th Ave., while working there, said San Mateo County Chief Deputy District Attorney Karen Guidotti.

Whiteman was employed at the school for about three years, said Gui- dotti. According to his LinkedIn profile, Whiteman was an IT specialist for the school until September.

Guidotti said allegations against Whiteman include texting “fairly intimately” with the 14-year-old at all hours, along with hugging and kissing her.

Whiteman was charged yesterday with four counts of lewd acts upon a child ages 14 or 15 while being 10 years older than the child, contact with a minor for a sexual offense and child molestation or annoyance, Guidotti said.

Whiteman pleaded innocent to the charges yesterday and posted bail.

Guidotti said there is no reason to believe that Whiteman was involved with any other students.

Whiteman will be back in court on March 1.