EspañolOrange County Basketball Coach Carlos Juarez (Full Name: Carlos Francisco Juarez), of Costa Mesa, Sentenced To Prison For Sexually Assaulting Young Girls
ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (July 25, 2023) – An Orange County basketball coach identified as Carlos Juarez has been convicted of sexually abusing young girls.
Orange County prosecutors are saying that the former basketball coach was found guilty by a jury of 10 felony counts of lewd acts upon a child of 14. Carlos Juarez was also convicted of 7 felony counts of lewd acts of a child and two felony counts of oral copulation with a minor under 16.
He was also convicted of sexual penetration by foreign object of a minor. The victims said that the incidents happened in 2009.
Prosecutors said that he groomed the young girls all of whom went to the same basketball club. Carlos Juarez is facing 150 years to life in prison.
Liability For Orange County Child Sexual Abuse By Coaches
Sexual abuse within the k-12 school system is unfortunately very high. Students involved in athletic programs can be particularly vulnerable to sexual predation by coaches. According to Child Help, “Studies indicate 40% to 50% of athletes have experienced anything from mild harassment to severe abuse. Research suggests that sexual abuse in sports impacts between 2% to 8% of all athletes. 90% of child sexual abuse victims know the perpetrator in some way.” There are a number of reasons that children tend to be more vulnerable around coaches.
- Children tend to be isolated from other teachers during extra-curricular sports activities.
- Coaches often have to place their hands on students due to the physical nature of sports.
- Children tend to spend more time with coaches than other teachers and often develop closer bonds with them.
It is illegal for coaches to have any type of sexual relationship with minor students. Under California Penal Code 288(a), it is illegal for any adult in California to engage in lewd conduct with a child. According to California Penal Code 287, it is a felony to perform oral copulation with a minor under 16 years of age. As outlined in California Penal Code 289, any person who commits an act of sexual penetration with a foreign object when it is accomplished by force, violence, duress, menace or fear shall be punished by imprisonment in a state prison. Teachers are mandated reporters and could also face criminal sanctions if they fail to report any reasonably suspected instance of child sexual abuse.
A school district could also face civil liability if the students in their care are sexually abused by a coach. Schools have a legal obligation to protect students from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. This includes protecting them from sexual predators. Consider, for example, Virginia G. v. ABC Unified School District (1993) 15 Cal.App.4th 1848. A school could be liable for the sexual assault of a student if school officials knew or should have known about a teacher’s history of sexual abuse. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any instance of school sexual abuse.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- A police report of the incident should be created.
- Surveillance footage of the incident should be sought.
- An experienced child sexual abuse attorney should be contacted.
By the time a teacher or coach is arrested for child sexual abuse there were often dozens of red flags that were missed. These should have been picked up on by the school, but in many cases they aren’t. The family of any student that is sexually abused by a coach or teacher may have legal recourse through a civil claim. Sadly, though, it is common for schools to deny all responsibility if a child is sexually abused in their care.
Investigating Orange County Child Sexual Abuse By Coaches
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our best wishes to all of the people who may have been harmed by the actions of Carlos Juarez. It is deeply disturbing that someone in a position of authority and responsibility would violate the trust and innocence of children. Hopefully, the Orange County school district will put in place additional safeguards to prevent this from happening again.
Have you or someone that you care about been sexually abused by an Orange County coach or teacher? Our team of sexual abuse attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that school districts are held to account when they employ predators who harm children. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.
