EspañolCalifornia’s 2nd District Court of Appeal Upheld Conviction of Mark Santo (Full Name: Mark Anthony Santo) on Sex Abuse Charges
LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA (July 17, 2025) – A former Long Beach Unified School District teacher identified as Mark Santo has prior convictions related to child sexual abuse upheld.
The defendant was convicted of sexual abuse charges involving three people, including two former students. Mark Santo challenged the outcome of the trial on the basis that it should not have allowed the testimony of two female high school students who were allegedly inappropriately touched.
A three-judge panel from California’s 2nd District Court of Appeal rejected those arguments and upheld the prior conviction. Mark Santo taught at Lindbergh Middle School and Jordan High School before being convicted of two counts of lewd conduct with a child under 14 and other crimes.
He was sentenced to 80 years to life for those crimes. A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge called him a predator and danger to the community.
Liability for Los Angeles County Child Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse involving schoolteachers remains an alarmingly common occurrence across Los Angeles County and California. In fact, Los Angeles County recently reached a massive settlement for long-standing sexual abuse. According to the LA County officials, “Los Angeles County has reached a $4 billion tentative agreement to settle more than 6,800 sexual abuse claims dating back to 1959. The settlement now must be approved by the LA County Claims Board and the Board of Supervisors.” A number of factors have contributed to this abuse.
- Institutional Neglect: The workers at Los Angeles County institutions have often turned a blind eye to sexual abuse.
- Lack of Oversight: Perpetrators were often allowed to be isolated with their victims.
- Lack of Investigations: Even when credible allegations have been brought forward, they were not always properly investigated.
All schools in California have a legal obligation to protect students from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. This includes protecting students from sexual predators. To that end, school officials must properly supervise the students in their care. Pursuant to California Education Code § 44807, “Every teacher in the public schools shall hold pupils to a strict account for their conduct on the way to and from school, on the playgrounds, or during recess.” When schools fail to properly look after students who are sexually abused on school grounds, the school district could be held liable for that misconduct.
A number of school districts have faced lawsuits for failing to protect students from sexual abuse. Consider, for example, J.H. v. Los Angeles Unified School District. A student was sexually abused at a Los Angeles middle school. Attorneys for the plaintiff alleged that LAUSD negligently hired and retained the perpetrator. In doing so, the school allegedly breached their duty to protect students from foreseeable sources of harm. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any instance of sexual abuse involving school teachers.
- Medical records related to any injuries should be preserved.
- Communication between the perpetrator and the plaintiff should be examined.
- The history of misconduct involving the perpetrator should be understood.
- An experienced Los Angeles child sexual abuse attorney should be contacted.
The vast majority of sexual abuse that takes place involving teachers is preventable. Indeed, by the time any teacher is arrested for sexual abuse, there were often many red flags that were missed. In certain situations, schools will know that a teacher is engaging in worrying behavior but not take any further actions. It is important for victims to understand that they do have legal options. They are able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil action.
Investigating Los Angeles County Teacher Sexual Abuse
We at the Carrillo Law Firm were deeply concerned to hear about the actions of Mark Santo. It is a huge benefit to the community that this individual is no longer in a position to prey upon children. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to make all schools across LAUSD safer.
Have you or someone that you care about been sexually abused by a teacher in Los Angeles County? Our team of sexual abuse attorneys is here for you. We are committed to protecting the rights of abuse victims and holding school districts accountable for their negligence. In fact, we have consistently achieved some of the highest verdicts and settlements for abuse claims in California. 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.
