Tuesday, August 2, 2005 Teacher charged with allegedly molesting another boy By: TERI FIGUEROA - Staff Writer VISTA ---- A prosecutor on Monday filed an additional charge involving a new alleged victim against the Escondido school teacher accused of fondling boys, most of them students at his school. Peter T. Ziskin is now accused of fondling a total of 12 boys, all of them under 14 years old. The addition of another alleged victim came on the same day that Ziskin's attorney filed documents with the court stating that police were unable to find any child pornography or "questionable images" in Ziskin's home or on his computers. Ziskin has pleaded not guilty to allegations that he fondled 11 students on the grounds of Rincon Middle School in Escondido between September and January. He is also accused of molesting the preteen son of a longtime friend. Because the allegations involve multiple victims, Ziskin, 43, faces life in prison if convicted. The Solana Beach resident is free on $1.75 million bail. Prosecutor Tracy Prior said Monday that the newest alleged victim recently came to the attention of investigators. The boy, Prior said, was no longer a student at the school when news of Ziskin's arrest broke in February. Prior said all the alleged victims will testify at Ziskin's preliminary hearing now set for Sept. 7. A preliminary hearing is held for a judge to determine if there is enough evidence to take a defendant to trial. Also on Monday, Ziskin's attorney filed documents asking the court to let him put on witnesses during Ziskin's preliminary hearing to counter the prosecution's contention that Ziskin used horseplay and wrestling with the boys as a ruse to fondle them. Defense attorney Christopher Plourd alleged in court documents that a police search of Ziskin's home and computers turned up no evidence of child pornography or "questionable images." Authorities have said in court documents that child molesters often possess child pornography. Plourd also wants the judge to hear from witnesses who he says will testify that nothing inappropriate happened. He wrote that one of Ziskin's former students would testify that he saw other students initiate the horseplay with Ziskin during lunch breaks in his classroom. Another teacher will testify that the classroom was a "high traffic area," according to the court documents. Police arrested Ziskin in February after a school employee said she walked into a classroom and "surprised" Ziskin with a student. According to a search warrant affidavit filed by police, the woman said she saw Ziskin holding the 13-year-old student over his head. When Ziskin put the boy down, the woman saw Ziskin "struggle to remove" his hand from the inside of the boy's pants, the affidavit states. Before joining the staff at Rincon Middle School as a full-time teacher this past school year, Ziskin worked as a substitute teacher at several North County schools, including some in Del Mar, Solana Beach, Cardiff, Encinitas, Ranch Santa Fe and Oceanside, according to the San Diego County Office of Education. Contact staff writer Teri Figueroa at (760) 740-3517 or tfigueroa@nctimes.com. http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2005/08/02/news/coastal/8105204608prt   Back To Guvment Skool Page 8 COPYRIGHT "DUHMAG.COM" 2005