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Brett Dahl Arrested On Child Sexual Abuse Charges

Excelsior Charter Schools Teacher Brett Dahl (Full Name: Brett David Dahl) Arrested For Alleged Lewd Conduct With Underage Teen Girl 

child sexual abuse

SAN BERNARDINO, CALIFORNIA (April 24, 2024) – A 43-year-old Excelsior Charter Schools teacher identified as Brett Dahl has been arrested after allegations of inappropriate conduct with a 16-year-old girl.

San Bernardino County officials first made the allegations public in a news release. Brett Dahl was arrested on numerous felony charges, including meeting with a minor for lewd purposes, child endangerment, and child abduction.

The arrest came after an investigation by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Specialized Investigations Division. Authorities responded to reports of the incident at Excelsior Charter Schools on April 24.

Detectives believe that there may be additional victims and are asking for the public’s help. Brett Dahl has subsequently been booked into the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto.

His bail has been set at $60,000. A full investigation into all of the allegations remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For San Bernardino County Child Sexual Abuse

Millions of parents drop their kids off at school each day. We all hope that our kids are safe, but in far too many situations children are taken advantage of by child predators who are working as teachers. According to one report by the New York Post, “Nearly 270 public educators were arrested on child sex-related crimes in the US in the first nine months of this year, ranging from grooming to raping underage students.” Schools should take a number of measures in order to protect children from sexual abuse.

  • Schools should thoroughly vet all teachers and school employees.
  • Schools should always properly monitor the students in their care.
  • Schools should have clear guidelines on appropriate conduct between teachers and their students.
  • Schools should thoroughly investigate all suspected instances of sexual misconduct.

Pursuant to California Penal Code 288, it is a crime for a person to commit any lewd or lascivious act on a child under 16 years of age. This includes touching a child’s body for sexual purposes. It is not necessary for the touching to be on bare skin. In addition to criminal penalties, a school district could also face civil liability if a child in their care is sexually abused.

Schools have a legal obligation to adequately supervise children in their care and enforce all rules and regulations necessary for their protection. 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 child sexual abuse.

  • A police report of the incident should be created.
  • Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
  • Any history of misconduct involving the assailant should be reviewed.
  • An experienced teacher sexual abuse attorney should be contacted.

Sexual abuse is rarely an isolated incident. By the time any school official is arrested for sexual abuse, there are likely many red flags that have been missed. It is also common for there to be multiple victims. Teachers are mandated reporters and are supposed to report any reasonably suspected instance of sexual abuse. But far too often, this does not happen. Any person who is sexually abused by a teacher in California is able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim.

Getting Legal Help After Sexual Abuse At Excelsior Charter Schools 

We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our best wishes to all of the students and families who may have been impacted by the actions of Brett Dahl. There needs to be a thorough investigation into all of the allegations and accountability for all those impacted. It is our sincere hope that school district officials will consider measures to make San Bernardino County safer for all children.

Have you or someone that you care about been impacted by sexual abuse at Excelsior Charter Schools? You may have legal recourse. Our team of child sexual abuse attorneys is here to help with whatever you need. We are committed to getting justice for our clients and holding schools and abusers accountable for their wrongful actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we may be able to assist you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.

Author

MICHAEL S. CARRILLO, Partner

Michael works on high-profile cases that have garnered national media attention. His practice today focuses on child sexual abuse cases, police misconduct cases, catastrophic injuries and other wrongful death matters. He is a passionate advocate for his clients including the countless child sexual abuse victims he currently represents.