The charges against Matthew Garrett have emerged as a result of an extensive investigation carried out by the police. The probe was initiated following reports from victims who have mustered the courage to come forward with their experiences. These brave individuals provided crucial information, leading to the identification of the accused teacher and the subsequent filing of charges.

Call the law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard if you are a victim of Matthew Garrett. Protect your rights and allow our attorneys to work for your best interests. 408-289-1417.

The accusations highlight the pressing issue of sexual abuse in educational settings and the imperative to protect students from such heinous acts. Schools are entrusted with the responsibility of providing a safe and secure environment for students to learn and grow. The alleged misconduct of this teacher violates that trust and underscores the need for comprehensive measures to safeguard students.

It is crucial for schools to have robust protocols and systems in place to prevent, detect, and address any form of abuse. These mechanisms should include thorough background checks and screening processes for all staff members, as well as clear reporting channels and support structures for victims. Educating students about their rights, boundaries, and appropriate behavior can also play a significant role in preventing such incidents.

When incidents of abuse occur, it is paramount that victims feel empowered and supported to come forward with their experiences. Reporting mechanisms should ensure confidentiality, and trained professionals should be available to offer counseling and guidance to survivors. Authorities must take all allegations seriously, conducting prompt and impartial investigations to bring justice to the victims and hold perpetrators accountable for their actions.

The accused teacher now faces legal proceedings, during which the evidence will be presented, and a fair trial will determine their guilt or innocence. It is a critical moment for the victims who have summoned the courage to speak out and for the justice system to address their grievances.

Cases like these serve as reminders that vigilance and a commitment to the safety of students are of paramount importance. By addressing the issue head-on, implementing preventive measures, and fostering a culture that supports survivors, we can work towards creating a safer learning environment for all students.

San Jose police said a similar allegation was made against Santiago in 2014 at another Alum Rock School District school, but no charges were ever filed. Santiago was then moved to Adelante Academy.

This case has many similarities to a case that just resulted in a $102 million jury verdict against the Union School District. In both of these cases, it appears the music instructors were isolated from the rest of the school and lacked proper supervision. And in both cases, it appears that there were several “red flag” warnings that could have stopped the abuse of students.

San Jose Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children and Child Exploitation detectives began investigating Santiago when reports of him inappropriately touching students surfaced. Santiago was arrested on November 21, 2022 and booked into the Santa Clara County Main Jail. According to Superintendent Dr. Hilaria Bauer, Israel Santiago has not been in contact with students or on school property since November 1st.

According to a press release from the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s office, investigators found that starting last school year the suspect would take the children in his office, which was in a relatively secluded spot. He is accused of often holding the girls on his lap and hugging them tightly to his body along with cupping female student’s buttocks and in one case he stroked the bare skin of a fourth grader’s back, underneath her bra strap. According to the police report, one of the reported victims contacted a friend via text message and described her physical contact with Santiago: “Sometimes I feel my shirt lifting up … I just don’t want to be around him.”

NBC Bay Area reports, “As soon as these schools, administrators, whoever become aware of these incidents, please report it to law enforcement,” San Jose police Sgt. Christian Camarillo said. “Please call us. It doesn’t mean that you’re going to have patrol cars showing up at your school. Our unit has plainclothes detectives. We want to talk to these kids as quickly as we can.”

Due to the number of student victims, police detectives believe there could be more unaccounted victims. Persons with information regarding this incident or any other similar incidents are urged to contact the sexual abuse legal team at the law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard at 408-289-1417.

Source: https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/south-bay/san-jose-music-teacher-sexual-assault/3085337/

https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/11/22/east-san-jose-music-teacher-arrested-on-suspicion-of-sexually-assaulting-students/

Robert Dunham was convicted and sentenced for abusing multiple students. The DA’s office issued a statement following his sentencing, stating that Dunham had a history of inappropriate conduct aimed at students and other minor children with whom he had been trusted.

Fickas is currently serving a 28-year prison sentence for raping and sodomizing four girls or women and for oral copulation on a teenage boy he coached at North Salinas High School. Fickas coached the girls’ junior varsity field hockey team and also acted as the varsity shot put coach for the track and field team at North Salinas High School.

For victims of Dunham and Fickas, attorney Robert Allard suggests that survivors should look at protecting their legal rights.

Please contact our law firm at 408-289-1417 if you are a victim of Fickas or Dunham.

About Cerri, Boskovich & Allard

The sexual abuse legal team at Cerri, Boskovich & Allard has a national reputation and proven record of helping survivors and their families recover from childhood sexual abuse. The firm’s $65 million sexual abuse jury verdict in a case against a public school is believed to be the largest single plaintiff verdict ever in California and the U.S. In May 2022, the law firm obtained a $10 million jury verdict for the 2003 sexual abuse of a then-high school tennis player abused by his coach. And earlier this year, the firm secured $7.5 million for five men sexually abused by their teacher in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s.

One victim reportedly described being allegedly raped by a teacher in the 1980s when she was 16 years old. The sexual abuse progressed into more violent encounters.

Another victim reportedly described how a teacher/soccer coach acted inappropriately by creating “an exclusive clique of students with a secret ‘initiation ritual’ that included asking girls embarrassing personal questions about their bodies.” In addition, this same teacher would allegedly give massages to female students while also groping their bodies.

The final claim was against a former Thacher headmaster who asked two female students to work as waitresses at a formal dinner party at his home. According to the report, the headmaster “instructed them to wear slinky and sexy clothes.” He also “deliberately dropped his napkin, then asked a female student to pick it up and put it on my lap.”

Unfortunately, these types of sexual abuse and sexual misconduct reports are not uncommon. Thacher acknowledged that there were repeated instances of “boundary crossings.” Even though the accused teachers and headmaster no longer work at Thacher and have not been charged, the Ventura County Sheriff department is reviewing the evidence. For the victims, their greatest fear, as students, was that they would be the ones to get in trouble.

Victims are often afraid to speak up and report what sexual crimes have been committed. When teachers or administration officials commit sexual misconduct, victims often feel as if they have no one to turn to.

Top boarding schools such as Connecticut’s Choate Rosemary Hall and St. Paul’s in New Hampshire have also endured sexual misconduct scandals.

If you are a victim of Thacher School sexual misconduct, the time is now to come forward. The law has changed and is providing you with an opportunity to seek justice. Call one of our attorneys for a free and confidential consultation.

Source: https://nypost.com/2021/06/17/californias-exclusive-thacher-school-reveals-decades-of-sex-abuse/

Throughout the years, the Palo Alto Unified School District has dealt with a number of sexual misconduct issues. It has also been the target of a formal letter of adverse findings by the U.S. Department of Education’s Civil Rights unit.

In 2013, an explosive report by the student journalists described an alleged “rape culture” at Palo Alto High School.

In 2015, former Palo Alto teacher, Mike Airo, was charged and then later convicted of four felony counts of sexual abuse of a minor. The abuse reportedly went back a decade, and concerned a victim known in court as “Anne Doe.” She claimed she was 11 when Airo allegedly began abusing her.

The Palo Alto school board voted unanimously to dismiss Airo shortly after his arrest—Airo taught 4^th and 5^th graders at Ohlone, in the Palo Alto Unified School District, beginning in 2009.

Another former Palo Alto teacher pleads “no contest” to sexual abuse of a student

Another former Palo Alto teacher, Ronnie Farrell, was arrested in 2017 for committing sex crimes against a student. Farrell pled no contest, and was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison with no probation.

Farrell taught chemistry and biology. He resigned from his teaching position on the same day he pled no contest to the charges.

Formal letter of findings sent to Palo Alto Unified School District

In light of the above incidents, as well as other claims of sexual harassment and sexual abuse in the Palo Alto Unified School District, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights sent a formal letter of findings to the district, following an investigation. The letter stated the district repeatedly failed to respond to and investigate sexual harassment and sexual assault reports in a prompt and equitable manner. According to the letter, this failure to respond and investigate resulted in violations of the federal anti-discrimination law Title IX.

After receiving the letter, the Palo Alto school board unanimously approved a resolution which would commit the district to addressing the violations employing a range of efforts. The letter’s findings detailed the school districts dismal failure even in following its own policies and procedures in eight separate sexual harassment, misconduct and assault cases which involved teachers, staff, an administrator and students, beginning in 2013. The report clearly illustrated a culture in which the staff either delayed, or entirely resisted keeping records of Title IX incidents in the Palo Alto Unified School District. Further, the Office for Civil Rights expressed concern regarding the fact that while the districts did investigate the allegations against Farrell and Airo, those investigations were unreasonably delayed.

Getting the help you need from experienced sexual misconduct attorneys

If your child has been traumatized by sexual abuse by a trusted educator, or if you are an adult survivor of childhood sexual abuse, the Cerri, Boskovich & Allard team of sexual misconduct attorneys will seek justice on your behalf. We fully understand the lifelong impact of child sexual abuse and are sensitive to the best interests of the child. At the same time, we hold predators and enablers accountable for the harm they cause.

The compassionate, experienced attorneys at Cerri, Boskovich & Allard have represented hundreds of sexually abused children, adults who were sexually abused as children and the loved ones of these victims of sexual abuse. We represent sexual misconduct victims in San Jose, Santa Clara County, the Bay Area, and Northern California. Call 408-289-1417 for a confidential evaluation with a knowledgeable child molestation attorney.

Sources:

https://storify.com/paloaltoweekly/sexual-misconduct-discrimination

https://www.ktvu.com/news/2-investigates/2-investigates-palo-alto-school-district-failed-to-properly-investigate-sex-assaults-feds-find