Articles Posted in School Teacher Sexual Abuse

A music teacher at Adelante Dual Language Academy, Alum Rock Union School District, is facing multiple sexual abuse charges following his arrest. Israel Santiago, a music teacher, is accused of inappropriately touching at least ten students in the band room. Adelante Dual Language Academy is a transitional kindergarten through 8th grade school in East San Jose.

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.

The sexual abuse legal team at Cerri, Boskovich & Allard is investigating sexual abuse claims against two Salinas educators. If you are a victim of former Harden Middle School teacher Robert Dunham or John Fickas, call our office. The call is confidential.

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.