Encinitas

A San Dieguito High School teacher accused of molesting four teen-age girls pleaded not guilty Monday.

George Dewey Warner III, 34, is charged with committing a lewd act with a minor, two counts of sexual battery on another girl and two misdemeanor counts of child molesting with two other girls.

Warner, who had been free on $33,000 bail posted eight hours after his arrest Oct. 6, was allowed to remain free by Municipal Judge Michael Orfield.

The judge ordered Warner not to contact the alleged victims or their families and not to associate with minors without the presence of an adult.

Warner is on administrative leave from the school.

“These crimes are alleged to have occurred outside the classroom,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. John Williams, who declined to elaborate.

The girls are between the ages of 15 and 17, and one of the charges states that the incident took place almost a year ago.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Dec. 14.