A former Miramonte Elementary School teacher pleaded not guilty Monday to three felony counts of fondling a student.

Martin Bernard Springer faces three charges of molesting a second grade female student over a f several months in 2009.

The allegations against Springer, a second grade teacher at Miramonte Elementary School in South Los Angeles, surfaced earlier this year - days after fellow teacher Mark Berndt was arrested and charged with 23 counts of lewd acts on a child.  
 
Springer’s attorney has argued that the veteran teacher is a victim of a witch hunt that followed on the heels of the Berdnt scandal.
 
Initially, two students alleged that Springer had inappropriately touched them in class, but one withdrew her accusation shortly after the teacher's arrest.  
 
The 50-year-old from Alhambra is out on bail. Authorities monitor his movements with a tracking bracelet.
 
He’s scheduled to return to court on January 16th.

Vanessa Romo can be reached via <a href="mailto:vromo@scpr.org">email</a> and on Twitter @vanromo.