Allard filed a claim with the Evergreen Elementary School District seeking compensation for the family of a ten-year-old child allegedly molested by Craig Chandler. Chandler has been charged with five counts of lewd and lascivious acts on a child under the age of 14 at O.B. Whaley Elementary school. Former-Principal Lyn Vijayendran is charged with failing to report a suspicion of child abuse, even though she was a mandated reporter.

The Mercury News cites a police report stating that the parent of another alleged victim complained to Vijayendran last fall about Chandler blindfolding her child alone in his classroom and putting things in her mouth. Allard says that the ten-year-old victim he represents claims that Craig Chandler also made her engage in the same type of game, called “Helen Keller,” in which the victim was blindfolded so that Chandler could sexually abuse the child.

Allard is asking parents of children at O.B. Whaley to contact him if their child was made to play the same game. Contact attorney Robert Allard at 408-289-1417. You may also fill out the confidential form to the right.

Updated October 5, 2012: San Jose Mercury News reports, “the principal consulted with Evergreen School District Human Resources Director Carole Schmitt and then warned Chandler not to play what he called a ‘Helen Keller lesson’ with students alone.” The Mercury News gained access to the notes taken by the principal Lyn Vijayendran. According to the Mercury News, the notes detail how a second-grade student told her that teacher Craig Chandler put something in her mouth while she was blindfolded and alone with him in a classroom. Chandler wiggled her body and head “back and forth” and earlier asked her to “open her legs,” according to the principal’s handwritten and typed notes of the interview with the girl.

Child molestation victims’ rights attorney Robert Allard, of the law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard in San Jose, CA, is currently representing the families of children molested by a daycare worker at Trace Elementary School CDC along with families of children molested by teachers, athletic coaches and a Silicon Valley executive.

Mr. Allard issued the following statement:

“Much like Penn State’s Joe Paterno enabled child molester Jerry Sandusky, O.B. Whaley’s principal appears to have enabled alleged child molester Craig Chandler. As a community, we need to get to the bottom of this child molestation scandal and find out who knew what and when did they know it. Hopefully, the victims in this case involving Craig Chandler will come forward and take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that this does not happen again not only at this but other schools so that children are protected. The principal had a legal duty to report suspected abuse. If indeed it is true that Ms. Vijayendran ignored a complaint or complaints, she is as guilty of child molestation as the predator himself. We enthusiastically support the efforts of the District Attorney to criminally prosecute those who have harbored pedophiles. The next step is to create tougher laws so the mandatory reporting, and the resultant criminal consequences, applies to anyone in either the public or private sector who supervise anyone who has access to children like teachers, counselors, priests and coaches.”

Experienced in Representing Child Molestation Victims
Our experience in working as advocates for victims of childhood abuse provides us with the unique perspective of understanding the needs of our molestation victim clients. We handle each case with compassion and confidentiality. For a confidential free consultation with an attorney, please call us at 408-289-1417. You may also fill out the case evaluation form to your right. We’re ready to help you.

California Assemblyman Jim Beall is announcing proposed legislation that would strengthen California’s child molestation laws.

The legislation was introduced with input from child molestation victims’ rights attorney Robert Allard and victims of USA Swimming coaching molestation.

If passed, Assembly Bill 1628 would outlaw confidential settlements involving charges of child sexual abuse, raise the statute of limitations for victims seeking civil justice from age 26 to age 35, and require private entities that use public property, such as a soccer field or swimming pool, to conduct enhanced background screenings on individuals having access to children. Assemblyman Beall said, “the law must be changed to protect children, not child molesters.”

“I have seen firsthand the horrific damage that is inflicted on victims of childhood sex abuse,” Allard said. “Most if not all of this abuse would have been prevented had these proposed laws been in place and followed at the time. I applaud Mr. Beall and his staff for taking the initiative on these measures. I have every confidence that the children residents of California will be safer if AB 1628 takes effect.”

The bill is scheduled to be heard April 17 in the Public Safety Committee.

In a related action, Beall has also introduced ACR 125, a resolution designating April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. As a result, seventy-three legislators joined as co-authors to Beall’s resolution, which was approved by the Assembly.