SAN BRUNO – A brand new lawsuit accuses a San Bruno college district of failing to stop a trainer from sexually abusing 4 of his younger costs between 2016 and 2023.
The submitting comes simply days after a jury discovered 34-year-old Jeremy Yeh, of San Mateo, responsible on 17 felony baby molestation costs. He faces as much as 425 years in state jail when he’s sentenced on April 25.
Two of the 4 plaintiffs – recognized solely as JR and KM – are singled out within the lawsuit.
JR attended first grade at El Crystal Elementary College and second grade at Allen Elementary College, and KM attended first and second grade at Allen, in accordance with the swimsuit.
The lawsuit, filed by the Thompson Regulation Workplace, alleges Yeh repeatedly sexually molested and abused JR and KM.
As well as, the swimsuit claims the San Bruno Park College District obtained complaints about Yeh inappropriately touching kids as early as 2017 however did not take any motion.
That 12 months, a scholar noticed Yeh pull down one other lady’s pants whereas hugging her and notified college officers, in accordance with the lawsuit. However as a substitute of investigating the allegations, El Crystal Principal Jeanne Elliott compelled each college students to satisfy with Yeh, the swimsuit claims.
The lawsuit alleges Elliot later despatched a letter to oldsters calling the scholar Yeh abused “a liar.” A college official additionally instructed Yeh the scholar was “troubled” and each the scholar who reported the incident and the scholar whose pants had been pulled down had been punished for “spreading rumors.”
“These actions amount to ratification of Jeremy Yeh’s misconduct and thus aided and abetted Jeremy Yeh to continue to sexually molest, abuse, harass, manipulate, assault and batter” at the least 4 college students, together with JR and KM, in accordance with the lawsuit.
The swimsuit claims neither Elliott nor Superintendent Cheryl Olson reported the incident to police as mandated by legislation. The district didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
“Now that the criminal case is over, it is time to hold the San Bruno Park School District responsible for its failures, which are egregious,” mentioned Bobby Thompson, the legal professional representing JR and KM. “My clients’ intent is to shine a light on the district’s actions and inactions, and to prevent this from ever happening again at a school within the district.”
The San Bruno Police Division in the end performed an investigation and took Yeh into custody in April 2023. KM stepped ahead as one of many victims after police introduced the arrest and urged dad and mom to speak with their kids, in accordance with her mom.
Father of JR (this information group isn’t naming him to guard his daughter’s id) at their dwelling in San Bruno, Calif. “We feel betrayed,” JR’s father mentioned when requested concerning the San Bruno Park College District’s dealing with of the allegations in opposition to former trainer Jeremy Yeh. A lawsuit has been filed in opposition to the district. JR was repeatedly sexually molested and abused by Yeh who has been discovered responsible on 17 felony baby molestation costs. (Karl Mondon/ Bay Space Information Group)
“It took about an hour,” KM’s mom mentioned by way of a Spanish interpreter. “She went into a full-blown panic attack. I had to take pauses to try and calm her down.”
“We feel betrayed,” JR’s father mentioned by way of the interpreter when requested concerning the college district’s dealing with of the allegations in opposition to Yeh. He lamented the missed alternative to take precautions and defend his daughter. “We never would have let this happen.”
KM’s mom and JR’s father view the swimsuit as one other alternative to actual justice for his or her daughters.
“We didn’t deserve this,” KM’s mom mentioned.
“We want to have justice so that we can have more peace as a family,” JR’s father mentioned. “Most importantly, we don’t want to see this happen to other children in the future.”
Thompson mentioned he believes there are further victims, noting that two of the identified 4 are undocumented and others might not have come ahead due to their immigration standing.
“I hope this lawsuit will empower those families to come forward out of the shadows and report what happened to them,” Thompson mentioned. “They need to know they can get help.”
Employees author Robert Salonga contributed to this report.
