EspañolTeacher At Redlands Adventist Academy Allegedly Inappropriately Touched Five Female Students
REDLANDS, CALIFORNIA (May 15, 2024) – A teacher at Redlands Adventist Academy has been accused of inappropriately touching at least five underage female students.
On May 7, Redlands Police responded to a report of sexual battery involving a male teacher. The incidents involved an unidentified teacher and allegedly took place over three years.
Authorities suspect that the most recent incident took place in April. The Redlands Adventist Academy teacher has been placed on administrative leave as an investigation continues.
There is a growing concern that there may be additional victims. Redlands Adventist Academy is a private Seventh-Day Adventist K–12 school that enrolls around 400 students each school year.
Liability For School Sexual Abuse
School sexual abuse remains far more common than people may realize. According to the National Education Association, “there were 14,938 incidents of sexual violence in K–12 schools in 2017 – 2018 compared with 9,649 in 2015 – 2016, representing a 55 percent increase. These include incidents of rape or attempted rape and sexual assault.” Schools should take a number of measures in order to prevent sexual abuse.
- Schools should ensure that all teachers undergo thorough background checks.
- Schools should make sure that students are properly monitored at all times.
- Schools should understand the factors that lead to sexual victimization and predation.
- Schools should have clear guidelines for appropriate conduct between students and teachers.
Schools have a legal obligation to properly monitor students and protect them from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. 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. If a school fails to adequately monitor a student who is sexually abused, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Certain steps should be taken after any instance of sexual abuse in a school setting.
- A police report should be created.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
- The history of complaints regarding the school employee should be reviewed.
- An experienced sexual abuse attorney should be contacted.
Sexual abuse can be one of the most traumatic experiences that children go through. Victims are often left with long-term psychological trauma and are more susceptible to chronic health conditions. Unfortunately, there are several school districts in California that have demonstrated that they do not take the threat of sexual abuse all that seriously. It is important that any person sexually abused in a school setting understands that they do have rights. They are able to hold the school and perpetrator accountable through a civil claim.
Investigating Sexual Abuse In San Bernardino County
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP were deeply concerned to hear about the sexual battery accusations being made at Redlands Adventist Academy. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. The Redlands Police Department should do everything in their power to understand the full scope of what took place.
Have you or someone that you care about been affected by sexual abuse at Redlands Adventist Academy? You may have legal recourse. Our team of sexual abuse attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that abuse victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. 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.
