California High School Officials Didn’t Report Sexual Assault, Arrested

Two assistant vice principals have been charged with child abuse and failure to report child abuse, as of 1 p.m. Wednesday. 38-year-old David Yang and 37-year-old Natasha Harris were both school officials for Carter High School in Rialto, California. Both were arrested on school grounds and then taken into custody without incident.

Apparently, the two had been notified of sexual assault between students as early as September 2021, and both were obligated to report the situation to law enforcement immediately. They both failed to report the situation, and in the meantime another two victims were found. All three students apparently were assaulted by the same suspect on school grounds.

Rialto police were not notified until February 16, and only when one of the victims’ mothers called them. According to NBC News, Rialto police got reports of sexual battery against a 15-year-old female student, who’d been sexually assaulted by a 17-year-old student “several times over the past three months.”

This student had reported these incidents to Yang and Harris in November 2021, and when detectives investigated they learned of another two female students who were allegedly assaulted by the same 17-year-old suspect. These other two were 15 and 16.

One of these victims made the September report to Yang and Harris, while the other came forward in February of this year. Under California law, both Harris and Yang are required to immediately report incidents like these to law enforcement.

Both school officials have been charged with a felony count of child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause great bodily injury or death, as well as two misdemeanor counts for failing to report child abuse or neglect as mandated reporters.

Now, both Yang and Harris have been booked into West Valley Detention Center and are under $150,000 bail. Whether the two are legally represented is presently unknown.

As reported by Sacramento Bee, the Rialto Unified School District will also be conducting an internal investigation.

KTLA reports that the 17-year-old suspect has been contacted by detectives and have issued him a citation. He’s now been released into the custody of his parents while criminal charges are pending and being filed.

The mother of one of the victims, Stephanie Olvera, claimed that her daughter’s claims were initially brushed off. “For that reason, she kept quiet because she was afraid she was going to get expelled from school… he started stalking her.”

According to the victim’s father, Bryan Tecun, the girl had been told “Maybe it was the way you were dressed or you might be seeking attention.”

Both parents only found out about the allegations last week because they were never notified. They’re both understandably furious with the school officials responsible for their daughter’s safety. And they’re made even further upset at the other treatment their daughter has faced.

In an article by Crime Online, the parents claim that their daughter had been harassed by other students after allegations had been made known. The victim’s mother says, “My daughter is being kept out of school right now and these people are still here while my daughter is losing on her education, and they are trying to make it seem as if she is a liar”

“The Assistant Principals’ failure to report sexual assault on their campus erodes the trust that students and parents alike should have regarding the safety and protection of all the children in their care,” claims District Attorney Jason Anderson, “Their failure as mandated reporters to notify law enforcement lead to further victimization of two students, and the sexual assault of a third victim which was preventable.”

A spokesperson for Rialto Unified School District also made a comment: “The safety and well-being of students is our number one priority. Accordingly, these allegations are taken with extreme seriousness,” claims Syeda Jafri, “The District will continue its internal investigation until all the facts related to this matter are brought to light.  We will also continue to work with local authorities as they conduct their own investigation.”

Anyone with information related to the incident is encouraged to contact Lieutenant James Mills and The Rialto Police Department at (909) 820-2632, and anonymous tips can be sent to (800) 782-7463.