LYNWOOD — Former Firebaugh High School Principal Jonas Silverio pleaded not guilty to 17 counts of committing lewd acts on a child at his Aug. 11 arraignment at Compton Superior Court.

Silverio, who was put on administrative leave with pay from the district in May, resigned on June 10 as principal of Firebaugh, effective June 30.

He was taken into custody July 8 at Los Angeles International Airport as he was returning from a trip to the Philippines.

Silverio is accused of committing acts against three minor girls. Two of them are said to be former Firebaugh High School students. The third student is from a Whittier school.

It has also been confirmed that Silverio’s California teaching credential has been temporarily suspended, pending the outcome of the case.

Silverio’s next court date is Sept. 4 in Department D at Compton Superior Court, when a preliminary hearing date will be set.

According to Sandi Gibbons of the district attorney’s office, Silverio’s bail is still set at $1 million and he remains in custody.

“The preliminary hearing is the next step in the proceedings,” Gibbons said. “In a felony case, after a defendant is arraigned on charges and a plea is entered, then a preliminary hearing is set. At that point, in front of a judge, the prosecutor will present evidence in the case, and the defense has a chance to cross examine any witnesses … and to object to any evidence that is introduced.”

At that end of that hearing, the judge who hears all of the evidence, makes a determination on whether the evidence is sufficient for the case to move to trial.