Los Angeles, CA – The arrest and charging of Gabriel Vigil, a 34-year-old substitute teacher and baseball coach at Cabrillo High School in Long Beach, on multiple felony sex crimes has brought renewed focus to the critical issue of student safety within educational institutions. As personal injury attorneys serving Los Angeles County communities, Easton & Easton is committed to raising awareness about the rights of survivors and the importance of holding both perpetrators and negligent educational institutions accountable for failures in student protection.

Details of the Charges Against Vigil

Gabriel Vigil was charged in Long Beach Superior Court with multiple felony counts including:

  • Having sex with a minor under the age of 18
  • Contacting a minor for sexual purposes
  • Distributing or showing pornography to a minor
  • Two additional counts of meeting a minor for lewd purposes

The alleged crimes occurred between May 1 and July 1, 2025, while Vigil was employed as both a substitute teacher and baseball coach at Cabrillo High School. According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, the abuse took place off-campus, including multiple incidents at Vigil’s apartment near Pacific Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach.

Vigil has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is being held on $250,000 bail. If convicted as charged, he faces up to eight years in state prison and lifetime registration as a sex offender. His next court appearance is scheduled for August 4, 2025.

The swift response by law enforcement following a report from a school staff member demonstrates the importance of mandatory reporting protocols and the vigilance of educational professionals in protecting students.

Exploitation of Dual Authority Roles

This case highlights the particular vulnerability created when individuals hold multiple positions of authority over students. Vigil’s roles as both substitute teacher and baseball coach provided him with extensive access to students across different settings and contexts, potentially making it easier to identify and groom vulnerable targets.

The combination of educational and athletic authority creates several concerning dynamics:

Academic Authority: As a substitute teacher, Vigil had classroom authority and could potentially influence grades, recommendations, and academic standing Athletic Authority: As a baseball coach, he controlled playing time, team positions, and potentially college recruitment opportunities Mentorship Role: Both positions traditionally involve mentoring relationships that students and families trust

This dual authority likely enhanced Vigil’s ability to manipulate and control his victim. Students may feel particularly powerless to resist or report abuse when the perpetrator controls multiple aspects of their school experience and future opportunities.

Off-Campus Abuse and Institutional Oversight

The fact that the alleged abuse occurred off-campus, including at Vigil’s apartment, raises important questions about institutional responsibility and oversight. While schools cannot monitor all interactions between staff and students outside school premises, they have obligations to:

Establish Clear Boundaries: Schools must have explicit policies prohibiting inappropriate relationships between staff and students, regardless of location Training and Education: All staff and substitutes should receive training on appropriate professional boundaries and reporting requirements Background Screening: Comprehensive background checks should be conducted for all employees, including substitute teachers and coaches Supervision Protocols: Clear guidelines should exist for any off-campus interactions between staff and students

The Long Beach Unified School District and similar educational institutions must examine their policies and procedures to identify potential gaps that may have enabled this alleged abuse to occur.

Ongoing Investigation and Additional Victims

Both the Long Beach Police Department and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office have indicated that these crimes might not be isolated events, actively encouraging additional victims to come forward. District Attorney Nathan Hochman emphasized the office’s commitment to prosecuting those who “exploit their position of trust in a school setting and target minors.”

The investigation remains ongoing, with the Long Beach Police Department’s Sex Crimes Division urging potential victims to contact them at (562) 570-7321. The relatively recent timeframe of the alleged crimes (May-July 2025) suggests that other current students may have been victimized.

Educational institutions often provide predators with access to numerous potential victims over extended periods. The fact that Vigil worked as both a substitute teacher and coach potentially gave him contact with students across multiple grade levels, sports teams, and academic subjects.

The courage demonstrated by the victim who came forward, as well as the school staff member who reported the suspected abuse, may encourage other survivors to speak out about their experiences.

Legal Rights for Survivors of Educational Institution Abuse

Survivors of sexual abuse by teachers, coaches, and other school personnel have important legal rights under California law. Recent legislative reforms have significantly expanded opportunities for survivors to seek justice through civil litigation, even in cases involving recent abuse.

Under the California Child Victims Act and related legal reforms, survivors can pursue civil lawsuits against:

Individual Perpetrators: Teachers, coaches, and school staff who committed abuse Educational Institutions: School districts that failed to protect students through inadequate policies, supervision, or response to warning signs Administrative Entities: Organizations with oversight responsibilities who failed in their duty to ensure student safety

These legal actions can address institutional failures including:

  • Inadequate background screening for employees and substitutes
  • Failure to implement or enforce appropriate boundary policies
  • Negligent supervision of staff interactions with students
  • Inappropriate response to reports of concerning behavior
  • Failure to provide adequate training on recognizing and preventing abuse

Civil litigation can provide compensation for therapy, educational impacts, medical expenses, and the long-term emotional consequences of abuse. For student-athletes, abuse by coaches can create particularly complex trauma that affects their relationship with sports and physical activity.

Easton & Easton’s Commitment to Supporting Survivors

At Easton & Easton, we have extensive experience representing survivors of sexual abuse in cases involving educational institutions, including public and private schools throughout Los Angeles County and California. We understand the unique challenges faced by students who have been victimized by trusted educators and coaches.

Our approach focuses on providing compassionate legal representation while also connecting clients with appropriate therapeutic resources and victim advocacy services to support their healing journey. We recognize that abuse by teachers and coaches can profoundly impact a student’s educational experience and future academic and athletic aspirations.

The charges in this case represent an important step in the criminal justice process, but they also underscore the ongoing need for enhanced safeguarding measures in our educational institutions. Students have the right to learn and participate in extracurricular activities in environments that prioritize their safety and well-being.

Survivors of abuse in educational settings deserve to have their voices heard, their experiences validated, and their rights protected. The prompt reporting by school staff in this case demonstrates the critical importance of trained professionals who understand their responsibility to protect students.

The accounts shared here underscore the critical need for continued vigilance and accountability regarding the safety of children within our Los Angeles County and Orange County communities. At Easton & Easton, attorney Saul Wolf remains dedicated to leveraging his extensive experience in cases of sexual abuse to pursue justice for those who have been harmed.

His work reflects a steadfast commitment to thoroughly investigating institutional failures such as Church Entities (including the Roman Catholic Church), Private Schools and Public School Districts (including LAUSD), Youth Servicing Organizations (including Boys & Girls Clubs and YMCAs) Youth Sports Organizations and National Governing Bodies (including USA Water Polo, and USA Cheer) and advocating for survivors.