Giordano waives preliminary hearing Giordano waives preliminary hearing (December 14, 2005)

Menlo Park resident Bill Giordano, a Palo Alto middle school coach accused of molesting a former student, appeared in a San Mateo County courtroom December 1 for a preliminary hearing.

Mr. Giordano, 60, chose to bypass the hearing and go directly to trial.

He is accused of 21 counts of child molestation and committing lewd acts with a minor in connection with an alleged three-year relationship with a 14-year-old girl. He originally faced 24 charges, but a second alleged victim has decided not to participate in the trial, said prosecutor Steve Wagstaffe.

The alleged victim, who is now 28, said that her sexual encounters with Mr. Giordano began in 1991 after he hired her to babysit his son, Mr. Wagstaffe said. Mr. Giordano is scheduled to appear in court again on January 10.

Mr. Giordano was a physical education teacher at Jordan Middle School, where he coached the volleyball and track teams. Bay City News Service

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