The Pomona Unified Faculty District this week introduced a pair of settlements within the ultimate two of a collection of lawsuits alleging inappropriate conduct by former coaches in opposition to eight girls whereas they had been college students at Pomona Excessive Faculty within the Nineties.
The district agreed on a complete of $25 million to settle the 2 lawsuits – $7 million for one lawsuit and $18 million to be divided amongst three plaintiffs in a second – throughout closed session at a Board of Training assembly Wednesday, Sept. 10, district spokesman Ronald Gonzales-Lawrence stated.
“The individuals accused of misconduct no longer work for the district,” Gonzales-Lawrence stated. “PUSD remains steadfast in its commitment to student safety and well-being, and continues to strengthen policies, procedures, and training to foster a safe, supportive and respectful environment for every student entrusted to our care.”
He additionally stated in an announcement that data was restricted as a result of the conduct alleged dated again a number of a long time, however within the curiosity of all events, “the district determined that settlement was the most appropriate resolution.”
The coaches named within the lawsuits had been males ranging in age from their 20s to their 40s on the time of the abuse, court docket paperwork present.
The ladies had been principally of their 40s by the point the lawsuits had been filed and most graduated highschool greater than 20 years in the past. All had been concerned in both observe or cheerleading whereas they attended Pomona Excessive Faculty.
One of many victims left the college after her freshman 12 months and one other moved out of state earlier than commencement.
No felony costs had been ever filed in opposition to any PUSD employees members.
In January 2024, a jury awarded $35 million to one of many girls, recognized as Jane Doe #4, who dropped out of highschool earlier than commencement and returned greater than a decade later to earn her GED.
Three different girls had reached settlements of their lawsuits.
The settlements introduced Wednesday had been for the ultimate two instances, one involving Jane Does #5, #6 and #7 and the second involving Jane Doe #8. The ladies weren’t recognized within the lawsuits as a result of they had been minors on the time of the abuse.
The previous coaches named within the two lawsuits embody Brian Crichlow, Herman Hopson, Derick Pugh and Vincent Spirlin.
Jane Doe #8, a observe athlete alleged that Hopson and Crichlow groomed her and sexually abused her on campus throughout her sophomore and junior years, however didn’t come ahead till January 2023 when, for the primary time, she found that her psychological damage as an grownup was brought on by the abuse and realized that others had been victimized by the 2 coaches.
Within the separate lawsuit, Jane Doe #5 alleged abuse by Crichlow, Jane Doe #6 alleged abuse by Hopson and Pugh and Jane Doe #7 alleged abuse by Sprilin.
All three alleged the coaches invited them into an workplace contained in the boys’ locker room and provided them alcohol, with two additionally being provided marijuana earlier than they had been sexually abused each on and off campus.
Jane Doe #5 stated she left Pomona Excessive Faculty after her freshman 12 months as a result of she was embarrassed about being referred to round campus as “Brian Crichlow’s girlfriend.”
Crichlow is getting into his sixteenth 12 months as the pinnacle coach of Mt. San Antonio Faculty’s girls’s basketball program. Pugh is in his second 12 months teaching males’s basketball at Ventura Faculty. Spirlin coached Ganesha Excessive Faculty’s ladies basketball crew to a 2020 CIF Southern Part 5A title.
Gonzales-Lawrence stated the settlements had been agreed upon exterior of court docket by the plaintiffs and their attorneys. Roberta Perlman, PUSD Board of Training clerk, declined to remark Thursday.
Attorneys representing the victims didn’t instantly reply to requests looking for remark. The college district’s legal professional declined to remark.
Initially Printed: September 12, 2025 at 5:51 AM PDT
