San Luis teacher faces sexual abuse charges

YUMA, Ariz. --An elementary school teacher in San Luis has been charged with sexually abusing students.

Eight students gave written complaints about Miguel Angel Chavez to the principal at Cesar Chavez Elementary school on Friday, saying that he had been inappropriately touching them. San Luis police investigated and Chavez was arrested later in the day.

Court records show he denied abusing any of the girls in his class, but said he may have been ``too friendly with his students.''

Chavez was arraigned in Somerton Justice Court on Tuesday, where his bail was lowered from $2 million to $153,000 on five counts of aggravated assault and two counts of sexual abuse.

Chavez' attorney, Jose Saldivar, said Wednesday that he believes bail was lowered because parents of some of the children wrote letters saying their children recanted.