CLEVELAND (AP) - A Cleveland police officer charged with the sexual battery of a 13-year-old boy when she was a teacher’s aide at an elementary school before becoming an officer has pleaded not guilty.
A Cleveland Municipal Court judge on Friday ordered Officer Maria Velez to have no contact with the student and set bond at $10,000.
A prosecutor had asked for the no-contact order. An arrest warrant alleges Velez contacted the boy after learning of the investigation and asked him to lie to detectives.
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Defense attorney Daniel Misiewicz (meh-CHEV’-its) declined to comment after court Friday.
The case sent to a Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH’-guh) County grand jury to determine how it will proceed.
The 24-year-old Velez was suspended without pay from the police department after her arrest Thursday.
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