Charged with Child Sexual Abuse in California
A California teacher has been charged with child sexual abuse.When parents send their children off to school, they trust that they will be safe. Administrators and teachers have the task of watching over children and keeping them free from harm.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. When a teacher is charged with child sexual abuse, they have breached their duty and cause serious harm to the child.
A California teacher who was once named teacher of the year faces 13 charges of child sexual abuse. The 34-year-old teacher taught 5th and 6th grades at Lincoln Acres Elementary in National City, California.
Read on as the California child sexual abuse lawyer at Beck Law P.C. discusses the case and civil liability concerning child sexual abuse.
What is Child Sexual Abuse?
Child sexual abuse is “the victimization of a child by sexual activities including molestation, indecent exposure, fondling, rape, and incest.” Exploitation includes forcing a child to do something, including sexual activities. An adult cannot have a consensual relationship with a minor since the child is not old enough to make decisions. Sexual abuse can result in serious mental and emotional harm to a young person. The child may not immediately report unwanted sexual activity because they are afraid or because they are ashamed. This can cause sexual abuse to continue for a period of time in some instances.
Reporting Child Sexual Abuse
Parents and others should report suspected child sexual abuse as soon as possible. The police will determine what occurred, and if abuse has occurred, they will take the appropriate steps. In this case, the mother of the 13-year-old child became concerned and contacted authorities. As a result, the California teacher is charged with two counts of committing lewd or lascivious acts with a child, four counts of sexual exploitation of a minor, and seven counts of possession of child pornography. She is also charged with attempting to dissuade a witness from testifying. The police are withholding details of the case because the victim is a minor.
Criminal and Civil Liability
A person who is accused or convicted of child sexual abuse could face both criminal and civil penalties. Multiple criminal charges may apply, such as in this case. Criminal punishment can try to prevent the abuser from doing the same thing again, but it doesn’t address the harm that was inflicted on the child. A civil action may be taken against the individual and the institution involved in the abuse. The school or other facility could be held accountable for harm to the child if the abuse took place on their property or if they were negligent. An attorney will guide you through the process of filing a lawsuit.
Harm Caused By Child Sexual Abuse
Sexual abuse that occurs as a child can be traumatic and may impact someone for the rest of their lives. Children trust adults, and when that trust is broken, it can be devastating. A child can suffer long-term emotional and mental trauma due to child sexual abuse.
Child sexual abuse can be extremely detrimental. If you believe that your child is a victim of sexual abuse, do not delay. Seek legal help to gather evidence and determine the best way to proceed. If this unfortunate incident happened in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, or anywhere in California, contact our experienced California child sexual abuse attorney at Beck Law at (707) 576-7175 to schedule a consultation today.
