Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Ex-Teacher Granted Delay in Assault Case

VAN NUYS —  A former elementary school teacher and sheriff’s deputy was granted a delay Tuesday of his arraignment on charges that he sexually assaulted three women, stating he can no longer afford a lawyer.

Edward Keith Culhane, 35, represented himself during the hearing in Van Nuys Superior Court and told Judge Charles Peven that preliminary legal battles have used up all his money, said Deputy Dist. Atty. Michael Noyes.

The judge rescheduled the arraignment for Sept. 12, allowing Culhane time to determine if he can rehire Kenneth Schreiber, who represented him during his preliminary hearing in Municipal Court and at other initial court appearances.

Culhane said he will seek representation from the public defender’s office if he cannot raise enough money to rehire Schreiber.

Culhane is suspected of raping one woman and sexually assaulting two others over a span of 3 1/2 years. The victims include a 17-year-old he allegedly raped when he was a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy in June, 1990, and a 44-year-old co-worker at Santa Clarita Elementary School in November, 1993.

He also is charged with sexually assaulting his 19-year-old baby-sitter in early 1992 shortly after he left the Sheriff’s Department.

Culhane is free on $50,000 bail. He could not be reached Tuesday for comment.

He faces seven charges, including forcible rape, sexual battery by restraint and rape by foreign object. If convicted he could receive a maximum of 27 years in state prison.