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A Los Angeles area high school soccer coach has been arrested for the alleged sexual assault of a minor following an investigation by the Westminster Police Department. According to a report by KTLA, the Westminster Police Department identified the suspect as Michael Avila, 20, of Norwalk. In mid-July, police began investigating a reported sexual assault that occurred near the 13500 block of Edwards Street in Westminster. Following the investigation, Avila — who coaches soccer at a Los Angeles area high school — was identified as the suspect. He was located and arrested in Norwalk on July 28 and booked [...]

When a student walks into a classroom, they should be safe. That trust is foundational, and when a teacher allegedly breaks it, the impact reaches far beyond the incident itself. In May 2026, a Moreno Valley charter school teacher was arrested and charged with serious sexual crimes against a student, according to a news release from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. The allegations have renewed concerns about how well institutions protect the students in their care and what options exist for survivors when they don't. At Easton & Easton, we represent survivors of school sexual abuse across Southern California. [...]

A wrestling coach is supposed to build discipline, resilience, and confidence. The coach-athlete relationship depends on trust, and that trust runs deep, especially for young athletes who spend hours each week in close physical proximity with their coach. In May 2026, that trust was shattered in Hesperia. According to a report by CBS Los Angeles, San Bernardino County Sheriff's deputies arrested Hesperia High School wrestling coach Gene Richard Griffith III on charges of lewd and lascivious acts with a child. Authorities believe there may be additional victims, and the investigation is ongoing. At Easton & Easton, we represent survivors [...]

For the ten girls who were molested by their cheerleading coach, April 23, 2026 marked something rare: a verdict that matched the harm. After years of carrying what happened to them, often in silence, they stood before an Orange County Superior Court judge and told the truth out loud. According to a report by NBC Los Angeles, Erick Joseph Kristianson, 46, was sentenced to 174 years and four months to life in prison following his December 2025 conviction on 23 felony child sexual assault counts. Orange County Superior Court Judge Kevin Haskins also ordered lifetime sex offender registration and [...]

Students and families trust school districts to do more than just notice abuse. They trust them to investigate it, document it, report it, and make sure the person responsible can't do it again. When that system fails, it fails quietly. Records disappear. Complaints go unanswered. Abusers move to new schools. In March 2026, the California Attorney General's office confirmed in a formal legal agreement what students at one Southern California school had been saying for years. According to a CalMatters report, an 18-month investigation into the El Monte Union High School District found "systemic shortfalls" in how the district [...]

People told the district. Parents called the athletic director. Students watched it happen in the school parking lot. And nothing was done. In March 2026, a former Woodside High School student filed a civil lawsuit against the Sequoia Union High School District alleging it failed to protect her against a volleyball coach who allegedly groomed and sexually assaulted her starting when she was 15 years old. According to a report by Local News Matters, multiple complaints were raised to school administrators and dismissed. The coach, Thomas Feng, was later arrested and charged with felony sexual assault of a person [...]

Some of the most devastating cases of childhood sexual abuse happen not in institutions, but in private settings where a child was placed under an adult's care. There is no coach, no classroom, no credential to revoke. There is only the profound violation of a child's trust by someone who was supposed to protect her. In early 2026, Irvine police arrested Ruediger Luzian Aldred Smith, 63, also known as "Rudy Smith," following an investigation into allegations that he sexually abused a young girl over the course of two years while she was under his care. According to a report [...]

Five girls. All between 12 and 14 years old. All players on the same middle school soccer team. All targeted by the same coach at the same after-school program. In October 2025, a Banning jury convicted Juan Manuel Pantoja Troncoso, a former girls soccer coach in the Coachella Valley Unified School District, on multiple felony counts of sexual abuse of children. According to a report by Patch, Troncoso is facing more than 25 years in state prison and was awaiting sentencing at the time of the report. He was one of the lead coaches in an after-school program at [...]

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 250 (AB 250), a new law that will create a temporary “revival window” allowing adult survivors of sexual assault to bring civil lawsuits in cases where the statute of limitations had previously expired. The law takes effect January 1, 2026 and remains in place through December 31, 2027. (Previously reported by the  Daily Journal) Under AB 250, individuals who were 18 years or older at the time of the assault may file civil claims for sexual assault that were once barred by California’s statute of limitations. This includes actions against the [...]

A 39-year-old leader of a Bible study group in Southern California has been arrested on suspicion of sexually abusing a child, according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. Authorities say deputies responded to a call in October that prompted a follow-up investigation. During that investigation, officials allege that the leader, identified as Cameron Taylor Heath, sexually abused a 12-year-old boy several years earlier while serving as the family’s Bible study group leader. Heath was booked into the Orange County Jail on December 4 on suspicion of committing a lewd and lascivious act with a minor under the age of [...]

A 68-year-old pastor in Southern California has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a child, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. The pastor, identified by authorities as Quintilo Sagrero, was serving at Templo Pentecostal El Camino Church in Compton when the alleged incident occurred on October 7, as earlier reported by KATU. Sheriff’s detectives charged Sagrero with two counts of “lewd acts upon a child,” and he was taken into custody on November 6. He is being held on $200,000 bail pending further legal proceedings. Law enforcement officials have indicated that based on the nature of [...]

A recent investigation by NBC News and affiliated outlets reveals that the Pentecostal denomination known as the Assemblies of God has faced allegations of child sexual abuse and institutional failures spanning nearly five decades. According to the report, nearly 200 pastors, church employees and volunteers affiliated with the Assemblies of God have been accused of sexual abuse—many involving children—dating back to the 1970s. The investigation further alleges that in some cases the denomination’s structure, which emphasizes local church autonomy, may have contributed to weak oversight and persistent risks of abuse. While the Assemblies of God’s national leadership responded with [...]

A former school counselor in Southern California has been charged with molesting multiple children, according to the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office. Prosecutors allege that the counselor engaged in sexual misconduct involving 15 minors while employed at a school in the region. The charges state that the Ventura County school counselor used his professional position to gain access to students, and the alleged conduct is said to have taken place over an extended period. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office began investigating after receiving reports of inappropriate behavior involving students. Following the investigation, the counselor was taken into custody and [...]

A former student of Mt. Whitney High School in Visalia, California, has reached a settlement in a lawsuit against the Visalia Unified School District related to alleged sexual abuse that occurred while she was a minor. According to court documents, the student will receive $8 million as part of the agreement. [Previously reported by the Fresno Bee] The suit, filed on the student’s behalf, alleged that she was molested during her time as a student in the district. The complaint asserted that the district failed to adequately protect her from harm and did not take appropriate action after being [...]

Rancho Mirage, CA – A disturbing case has emerged in the Coachella Valley, where a Palm Valley School teacher and coach, Stephen Spurlock, 43, was arrested this week following allegations of sexual abuse. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s investigators report that a 16-year-old came forward, claiming the abuse began at age 14 and persisted for over two years. As a personal injury law firm serving the Coachella Valley, [Law Firm Name] is committed to supporting survivors of abuse and helping them seek justice against perpetrators and negligent institutions. Details of the Arrest in Rancho Mirage Authorities arrested Spurlock after the [...]

Goleta, CA – A deeply concerning case has emerged in Goleta, where Shaun Donald Hertlein, a 42-year-old pastor and high school coach, was arrested on May 9, 2025, for alleged felony sex crimes involving minors.  Details of the Arrest in Goleta Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s detectives arrested Hertlein after serving a warrant, following an investigation that began in April 2025. He faces serious charges, including sending sexual images to a minor, communicating with a minor with the intent to commit specific crimes, and possession of obscene images of a child. Hertlein is currently in custody with a bail set [...]

It is every parent’s worst fear to trust an adult to guide or mentor their child, only to later suspect that something is seriously wrong. Grooming can be subtle and difficult to detect, especially when the abuser holds a position of authority. Recognizing red flag behaviors that your child is being groomed by an Orange County teacher or coach is a crucial first step in protecting them. What Grooming Looks Like in a School or Sports Setting Grooming is a methodical process where an adult builds trust with a child in order to use that trust to manipulate or [...]

Santa Paula, CA – A shocking case has unfolded in Ventura County, where David Lane Braff, Jr., a 42-year-old former school counselor, now faces 31 felony counts of child molestation involving 13 alleged victims. As personal injury attorneys serving Ventura County, Easton & Easton is dedicated to helping survivors of abuse seek justice and hold both perpetrators and negligent institutions accountable. If your family has been affected by this case, our compassionate legal team is here to support you. Allegations of Child Molestation Across Ventura County Schools Braff was initially arrested on November 22, 2024, facing 17 felony counts [...]

Sexual abuse often occurs in environments that are supposed to be safe for children, such as churches, schools, and anywhere youth activities are held. Understanding the warning signs your child may have been sexually abused in California can help you catch red flags early on. With swift action, you can hold the abuser accountable through the civil courts, as well as any groups that allowed or condoned the abuse. Behavioral Red Flags You Shouldn’t Ignore Children who have experienced sexual abuse often show sudden and unexplained changes in behavior. Any sudden change in a child’s routines or personality should [...]

There are many reasons why survivors of sexual abuse may choose not to report the incident right away. In recognition of this, California law provides extended statutes of limitations to give survivors more time to come forward. Understanding why California child sexual abuse cases go unreported and what we can do about it is an important first step in holding perpetrators accountable. The Hidden Scope of Abuse in California Child sexual abuse cases remain widely underreported across the country, and California is no exception. In 2022, California fielded 382,145 child abuse and neglect referrals. Of those, 192,197 were investigated [...]

Walnut Creek, CA – A troubling case has surfaced in the East Bay, where Gerard Flaherty, a 43-year-old employee of the Contra Costa School of Performing Arts, was arrested on May 1, 2025, for the alleged sexual assault of an underage student.Details of the Arrest in Walnut CreekWalnut Creek Police took Flaherty, a Pleasant Hill resident, into custody, and he is currently being held without bail. The Contra Costa School of Performing Arts has placed him on leave, though the school has not disclosed his specific role. Authorities have not clarified whether the alleged assault involves a current student or [...]

Youth sports offer an important outlet for children and teens to learn about sportsmanship, hard work, and other values. In Los Angeles, people in positions of trust can abuse their access to youths when they engage in sexual misconduct and abuse of minors. If you are the parent of an abused child or a survivor who aged into adulthood, you may be wondering whether holding coaches accountable for sexual abuse in Los Angeles is a possibility for you. Recognizing Signs of Abuse in Youth Athletics In Los Angeles County, youth sports are a major childhood activity. A significant 82.7% [...]