Rosemead High School Failed Its Students. We Are Fighting Back.

Sexually abused by a teacher, coach, or staff member at Rosemead or another school in the El Monte Union District?

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Rosemead High School Sexual Abuse Lawsuit

Contact us if you were sexually abused or harassed by a teacher, coach, staff member, or other adult associated Rosemead High School to learn about this new lawsuit to help survivors.

A Culture of Abuse Was Allowed to Thrive at Rosemead High School — Now It’s Time to Force Accountability.

Nothing anybody reported about swarming staff-on-student sexual assault seemed to faze officials at Rosemead High School in the El Monte Union School District near Los Angeles, though the misconduct seems to have involved multiple teachers and coaches dating back more than four decades.1

Finally, emergency action is called for.

An announcement from California Attorney General Rob Bonta on March 20, 2026, outlined landmark reforms to the way EMUHSD students are to be protected in the future from predators after a sweeping investigation uncovered “systemic failures” to protect students.

No more shuffling teachers and coaches from district to district with sterling endorsements: From now on, every hire will have to “pass the trash” test under laser scrutiny.2

If you were sexually abused at Rosemead High School or another school in the El Monte Union High School District from 2001 until now and you are under the age of 40, contact us immediately to discuss your legal options.

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“EMUHSD [El Monte Union High School District] failed its students. This was not an isolated breakdown. It was a longstanding failure to protect children, and it stretches back decades. The district should stop resisting and start complying. Students have the right to be safe at school.”3

What Happened at Rosemead High School?

Business Insider reporter Matt Drange, himself a Rosemead alumnus, corroborated in an October 2023 exposé dozens of instances of sexual misconduct involving 20 different educators, ranging from lewd remarks to statutory rape and spanning more than four decades. His coverage sparked a wave of survivors coming forward – many of whom were not previously aware that what happened to them constituted abuse.

In May 2024, prompted by Drange’s article, titled “The Predators’ Playground,” 12 women alleged in two initial lawsuits that EMUHSD officials failed to protect them from three Rosemead High School faculty members who, they said, sexually abused them repeatedly at Rosemead more than 15 years earlier in the 1990s and early 2000s.

In July 2024, another lawsuit was filed by nine additional women who described “a culture of covering up” abuse at Rosemead that harbored faculty members, ignored complaints, and conducted slipshod investigations instead of reporting abuse to the authorities.

The lawsuits, however, garnered attention from the California Attorney General’s office, prompting the Bureau of Children’s Justice to open an investigation into EMUHSD’s handling of abuse allegations.

Who Are the Accused Abusers at Rosemead High School?

The Business Insider exposé lists 20 accused abusers over the course of decades at the school. There may be other abusers that have not yet been identified.

  • Alex Rai — Social science teacher
  • Eric Burgess — English/journalism teacher
  • Paul Arevalo — Business teacher
  • David Pitts — Choir director
  • Wing Chan — Tennis coach
  • Michael Sullivan — Computer teacher
  • Justin Rosien — Chemistry teacher
  • Don Masiello — Algebra teacher
  • Jim Hall — Physical education teacher
  • Dwain Crum — Social science teacher
  • Andrew Dalton — Substitute teacher
  • Jan Herzog — Math teacher
  • Alex Valdez — Soccer coach/campus security guard
  • Justin Fregoso — Wrestling coach
  • Herbert Ortiz — Wrestling assistant coach
  • Fidel Dominguez — Track and field coach
  • Richard Daniels — Science teacher (at Arroyo High, same district)
  • RubyAnna Sare — English teacher
  • Harlan Mayne — Health and safety teacher
  • Sergio Caveyo — Math teacher

Is There a Rosemead High School Lawsuit?

Yes, A Case for Women is working with San Diego based Singleton Schreiber law firm to investigate possible civil lawsuits to help survivors of sexual abuse at Rosemead High School. Singleton Schreiber has a long history of helping sexual assault survivors and is a leader in this civil legal action.

Investigators believe more survivors and assailants are out there. Please come forward and tell us what happened if you were hurt. Many women have filed charges anonymously as Jane Doe or by initials only. We totally honor your privacy and keep your identity under lock and key from public visibility.

There can be no clearer example of those in power protecting perverts and predators in a culture dedicated to the safety and growth of vulnerable young people.

What About an El Monte Union High School District Lawsuit?

A Case for Women and Singleton Schreiber are closely investigating possible lawsuits against other schools within the same district as Rosemeade. While the abuse may have happened decades ago, it’s possible survivors may not yet have come forward. With the spotlight on El Monte, it’s time to come forward.

Other high schools in the district include:

  • Arroyo High School

  • El Monte High School

  • Mountain View High School

  • Rosemead High School

  • South El Monte High School

  • Fernando R Ledesma High School

If you were sexually abused by a teacher/coach/staff member, etc. at any of these high schools, we want to hear from you.

What About the El Monte Union High School District Settlement?

On March 20, 2026, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced a landmark proposed settlement with the El Monte Union High School District (EMUHSD) — a direct result of the wave of lawsuits and investigations sparked by survivor stories about Rosemeade High School. The California Department of Justice found that the District systemically violated laws and regulations designed to protect students, including the California Education Code and the Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act.

The settlement forces new reforms for the District, including:
  • Designating a new DOJ-approved Compliance Coordinator to handle all complaints.
  • Creating a centralized electronic system to track the complaints.
  • Offering mental health services and compensatory education to complainants.
  • Mandating annual age-appropriate training for students, parents, and staff, covering how to report abuse and the right to a prompt, effective response.

While this settlement is a critical step toward forcing accountability, there is still more that needs to be done. That’s why we need survivors to come forward and form a civil lawsuit. Not only will this help uncover more of what happened at Rosemead, but it can also provide compensation to survivors.

If you were sexually abused at Rosemead High School or another EMUHSD campus, you may still have legal options.

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Why Should You Come to A Case for Women?

First, we are women – kind but fiercely on your side. We go up against the big guys who used to get away with it.

Our mission is to help you regain your power and remember who you were before – healed of this dark memory and the bitterness of being repeatedly dismissed.

We have been down this road and back again in dozens of other pivotal sexual assault cases. Here are a few:

When  you ask for our help, we don’t just listen – we hear you through the desperation. We want to help you make this right(ER), and the sexual assault lawyers we work with will work long hours to build an airtight case for you at no charge unless you win. We only work with contingency lawyers – meaning they take all the financial risk until the case is resolved.

We will also be available until the case is resolved – to answer any questions you may prefer talking to us about. We are here for you, start to finish. We offer many services, even holding your hand to walk you through first steps and options. We cut through the crap. We care, which is why we want to help. Contact us, 24/7/365.

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Sources

  1. Matt Drange, “California enacts law to prevent sexual abuse in K-12 schools following Business Insider investigation,” Business Insider, October 9, 2025.
  2. Press Release, “Attorney General Bonta Announces Settlement with El Monte Union High School District to Address Handling of Sexual Harassment, Assault, and Abuse Allegations,” Rob Bonta, Attorney General, March 20, 2026.
  3. Andrew J. Campa, “Sexual abuse by coaches, teachers at Rosemead High School alleged in lawsuit by former students,” Los Angeles Times, May 15, 2024.
  4. Marissa Wenzke, “After exposé, LA County school district sued over sexual abuse allegations,” CBS News, May 8, 2024.