The Dirty, Disgusting, Dozen
by Christy Lozano
A jury recently awarded $25 million in civil damages against Santa Barbara Unified, the largest sexual abuse school settlement in Santa Barbara history. And more such mega suits may be on their way. Over the past 15 years, nearly a dozen known sexual abuse allegations involving Santa Barbara Unified School District teachers and/or employees have cost taxpayers millions of dollars. This does not include out-of-court settlements or situations where students don’t feel safe enough to even come forward.
Far more money has been spent on sexual abuse settlements, than the amount that currently separates teachers from the administration’s contract offer. It is high time that we as a community understand what is going on in our local schools, why it is occuring, and stop it.
Children are abused, taxpayers get fleeced, and teachers fight for crumbs. What about the well-paid administrators whose duties include oversight? Should million-dollar payouts be the expected or accepted outcomes? Such questions are rarely asked and are never fully answered.
In this first of a series, we review these “dirty dozen” sexual abuse cases, in search of clues.
As mentioned above, on Dec 8, 2023, a jury awarded $25 million in a 2nd civil lawsuit filed on behalf of a sexual abuse survivor against Santa Barbara Unified School District. In this case, the jury found that the school district was liable for 80% of the damages suffered by the boy, whose abuse began when he was 15 and the perpetrator – Justin Sell – football coach at Dos Pueblos High School was in his late 20s.
If you’re wondering why the school district had been found liable for 80% of the damages, here is one explanation:
“The school district and its employees had multiple missed opportunities to get rid of a person they acknowledged was a problematic employee,” said John Taylor of Taylor & Ring, a law firm known for bringing some of the largest abuse cases in California. “They repeatedly chose to protect the employee over the safety of the kids.”
May 31, 2023 produced another settlement; Santa Barbara Unified School District paid nearly $1 million to the victim of teacher and ‘Ethnic Studies’ activist, Matef Harmachis.
The victims' attorney in this case, Morgan Stewart, said, “I have never seen a case where a school district ignored so many red flags and allowed a dangerous individual to have unfettered access to vulnerable students.”
April 27, 2022 Santa Barbara School District Settles Lawsuit over 2018 Dos Pueblos Hazing: Former Student’s Lawsuit Alleged District Failed to Act in Stopping Several Extreme Incidents.
October 4, 2021 San Marcos Teacher and Coach, Jarrod Bradley arrested for alleged “sexting” with minors. No details of the case followed allegations.
September 22, 2020 Santa Barbara High School & District Employee Jose Arroyo arrested for multiple child sex crimes against children. No details of the case followed allegations.
November 8, 2019 Youth Interactive, non-profit partner contracted by Santa Barbara Unified, hit with rape allegation. No details of the case followed allegations. It has all been hushed up.
October 16, 2019 Dos Pueblos Dean Marshall Webb Abruptly Resigns in Puzzling Move. Webb’s wife, Angela Webb, also resigned her position in Tulare County Oct 9, 2018, after allegations of sexual misconduct with a student.
May 15, 2019 Santa Barbara School District Board Calls for Immediate Removal of MAD Academy Director Pablo Sweeney and Dan Williams. This follows example after example of coverup actions by the district. No charges were filed. Why was that?
June 10, 2014 Santa Barbara High Softball Coach, Vic Alvarez, Arrested for Sex with Student.
On June 28, 2013 Former Dos Pueblos football coach, Justin Sell was arrested for stalking admitted to harassing a former student since May. May 13, 2014 Former Dos Pueblos Coach, Just Sell sentenced to jail for stalking and sex offenses. This is the very same Mr. Sell who lost the $25 million civil suit.
July 11, 2011 tennis coach Peter Jeschke was arrested on Friday, December 14, 2007, for alleged sex crimes and was sentenced to 7 years, 8 months for unlawful sex with a minor, possession of marijuana, and driving on a suspended license.
June 2004, Teacher at Dos Pueblos High School, Matef Harmachis, was accused by district officials of issuing physical threats, making sexually inappropriate comments, using inappropriate physical force and swearing when dealing with various students in separate incidents. His hearing on January 13, 2009 notes the details of the case. This is the same Matef Harmachis involved in the nearly $1 million settlement May 31, 2023.
These examples of sexual abuse – right here in Santa Barbara – are far more than a couple of bad apples. There is something rotten in the schools themselves.
In our next series we’ll take a closer look at the administrators under whose care these crimes took place and get a better understanding of what their duties and responsibilities were and why courts have placed 80% of the blame on the District.
If you have been a victim of sexual abuse, at the hands of Santa Barbara Unified School District, click here.
Christy, this is an impressive piece of research and a stark level of exposure of appalling cover-up tendencies in senior management and others with authority in our schools.
In almost every case, whether in public institutions or private industry when illegal behavior occurs, followed by a cover-up, the management is usually to blame.
I look forward to reading the next episode.
Derek Hanley
Home schooling made sense to us, 35 years ago and even more so for our grandchildren. Between enforcement of the
childhood vax schedule, Marxist and Planned Parenthood indoctrination, and the risk the children might be molested, public school is a horrible choice, made by parents with no alternative. This really make the case for giving parents the money, now squandered on the public school system, and allowing them to choose how to spend it on educating their children.