EspañolPlaintiffs Allege Decades of Rampant Sexual Abuse At Rosemead High School and Within El Monte Union High School District
EL MONTE, CALIFORNIA (May 13, 2024) – Three women and former students at Rosemead High School are suing the El Monte Union High School District, claiming that they were sexually abused while they were students.
The women held a press conference on Wednesday announcing the lawsuit. They claimed that they were sexually assaulted by various employees within the El Monte Union High School District.
All of the women want an investigation by the California Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education. They said that their experience is part of a pattern of “rampant sexual abuse” at Rosemead High School and the school district.
One of the women said that she was abused by her tennis coach when she was only 14. She said that staff members of the high school were complicit in their knowledge of the relationship.
The three women want the high school and school district to take action so that there won’t be other victims. They are represented by attorney Michael Carrillo.
He has said that sexual abuse and misconduct have been a decades-long issue within the district. “This school district and Rosemead High School is a safe haven for predators and perpetrators and perverts,” said Carrillo.
Part of the problem is that school officials have continued to violate the law by not immediately reporting sexual abuse. There are growing concerns that there may be other victims who have yet to come forward.
Liability For Sexual Abuse In The El Monte Union High School District
There is a long history of sexual abuse within the El Monte Union High School District. The abuse has been chronicled by Business Insider reporter Matt Drange. “Altogether, I corroborated dozens of instances of sexual misconduct, involving 20 different educators, ranging from lewd remarks about students’ bodies to statutory rape,” he wrote. Many of the incidents were never reported. School districts should take a number of measures in order to prevent sexual abuse.
- School officials should report all reasonably suspected instances of sexual abuse.
- School officials should understand what factors lead to sexual victimization and predation.
- Schools should have clear guidelines for appropriate conduct between school officials and students.
- All schools should ensure that school employees undergo thorough background checks.
Teachers and school officials are mandated reporters and must report any reasonably suspected instance of sexual abuse. A mandated reporter who fails to report any incident of reasonably suspected child abuse or neglect is guilty of a misdemeanor under California Penal Code 11166(c). Unfortunately, teachers will often fail to report abuse out of fear of being disciplined or losing their job. Depending on the facts of any case, a school district could face civil liability if a student in their care is sexually abused.
Schools have a legal obligation to properly supervise the students in their care and follow all rules and regulations necessary for their protection. When school officials have knowledge that certain teachers or employees pose a risk of harm to students, they must take action. As outlined in Virginia G. v. ABC Unified School District (1993) 15 Cal.App.4th 1848, schools can be liable for the sexual assault of a student if teachers knew (or should have known) about that teacher’s history of sexual abuse. It is important that certain steps are taken after any instance of sexual abuse within a school.
- A police report should be created.
- Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
- The actions of school officials should be understood.
- An experienced school sexual abuse attorney should be contacted.
Sexual abuse within a school district is rarely an isolated incident. There were often numerous red flags that were missed. Misconduct of this sort tends to be enabled by systemic failures in the district and particular schools. Sadly, though, school districts will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if a child in their care is sexually abused by a district employee. It is important that abuse victims understand that they do have rights. Any person who is sexually abused by a school employee in California may have legal recourse through a civil claim.
Investigating Sexual Abuse In The El Monte Union High School District
The Carrillo Law Firm, LLP remains committed to exposing the rampant sexual abuse taking place within The El Monte Union High School District and advocating on behalf of survivors. It is our sincere hope that the school district will finally take action to protect the children in their care. No child should ever go to school in fear of being sexually abused by the very adults who are supposed to take care of them.
Have you or someone that you care about been sexually abused in the El Monte Union High School District? You can help make the school district safer by reporting abuse so that perpetrators can be held accountable. All calls are kept strictly confidential. Don’t Wait: If you’ve been sexually abused at Rosemead High School or within the El Monte Union High School District, you can contact the Rosemead Sex Abuse hotline for help at 626-799-9375.
