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Editor's Note: Read our latest coverage here- Criminal sex-assault charge to be dropped against Palo Alto teacher Peter Colombo
A physical education teacher whom Palo Alto Unified put on leave after he was accused of sexually assaulting a student pleaded not guilty on Monday, April 3, in Santa Clara County Superior Court.
Peter Michael Colombo, 55, of Redwood City, is charged with one count of aggravated sexual assault (rape) of a minor by force or fear, which is related to an alleged incident at the former Jordan Middle School (now named Greene Middle School) in 2001.
Palo Alto Unified School District administrators reported the alleged assault to police in late January 2022 after receiving an email from the victim's husband. He alleged that Colombo sexually assaulted his wife, who was now in her 30s, when she was 11 years old and a sixth-grade student. The assault allegedly took place in a school locker room.
The sexual assault charge was originally filed against Colombo on June 16, 2022. Monday's arraignment followed a March 21 preliminary hearing during which the student, who was identified as a Jane Doe, and Palo Alto Detective Yolanda Franco-Clausen testified. The court also considered a submitted 44-page transcript.
Colombo taught and coached elsewhere within the school district, including at Palo Alto High School, for 24 years. His earlier teaching history includes Kennedy Middle School in the Redwood City School District and Junipero Serra High School in San Mateo, according to his LinkedIn profile.
A Palo Alto Weekly investigation uncovered multiple complaints regarding inappropriate or offensive comments made by Colombo to students and criminal convictions during a 30-year period. The convictions included trespassing on a woman's property, DUI and vandalism. He falsified a 1995 substitute teaching credential application by omitting his criminal history.
Prosecutors on March 9 subpoenaed documents from Palo Alto Unified regarding any complaints, investigations, discipline and evaluations of Colombo that were in the school district's files. Court documents aren't clear if these records were part of the judge's consideration during the arraignment.
Colombo, who sat quietly in the court's gallery during his arraignment, stood before the judge and answered "not guilty." He remains free on a $250,000 bail bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 26 at the Hall of Justice in San Jose.
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