Educator : Los Angeles teacher Thelmo Garcia , 37 , is accused of placing a plastic over the head of a 10-year-old female student in class last month . A Los Angeles elementary school teacher was arrested this week after police say he placed a plastic bag over the head of a 10-year-old student . Thelmo Garcia , 37 , a fourth-grade teacher at Rosewood Elementary School , pleaded not guilty to one count of child abuse Friday , two days after he was taken into custody in connection to the February 5 incident . According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney 's Office , the educator placed a bag over the head of a girl in his class 'for several seconds ' during school hours . The child reportedly did not pass out after the stunt , according to CBS Los Angeles . Investigators would not say whether Garcia was disciplining the girl , or just joking with her , as he 's been known to do with other students . Garcia has been with the Los Angeles Unified School District since 1999 and taught fourth grade at Rosewood since 2010 . The 37-year-old man was ordered held on $ 100,000 bail . If convicted , he could face up to six years in prison . The school has suspended Garcia with pay pending an investigation . Scroll down for video . Place of learning : The alleged incident took place at Rosewood Elementry School , where Garcia has taught fourth grade since 2010 . The 37-year-old pleaded not guilty and was ordered held on $ 100,000 bail . ‘ We take these allegations very seriously , ’ Ellen Morgan , of the Los Angeles Unified School District , said in a statement . ‘ The district is fully cooperating with the LAPD investigation. ’ Some parents and students at the LA school were stunned to learn of the allegations against Garcia , who was described as a caring and playful teacher . According to CBS , Garcia had no history of infractions over the course of his teaching career .
Thelmo Garcia , 37 , pleaded not guilty Friday to one count of child abuse . Prosecutors say on February 5 , Garcia placed a bag over the head of a 10-year-old girl for school hours at Rosewood Elementary School .