On December 19, 2025, Pedro Antonio Tellez pled no contest to 12 counts of sex crimes against children for a total sentence of 32 years in prison. Several survivor families sat in the Pasadena Superior Courtroom as the presiding judge read the counts. One mother delivered a powerful victim impact statement, relaying not only the harm Tellez and the school district imposed upon her young child and family, but also conveying the sense of betrayal from Tellez’s grooming and rapport-building with her child. Tellez’s sexual assaults against young children came to light when he was a teacher’s aid at John Muir Elementary School, where he also served as part of an afterschool program through the school district’s Child Development and Child Care Department. Tellez was also permitted to work as a coach through Glendale’s After School Youth Sports Program.
Tellez’s plea likely brings a semblance of justice to the families of survivors. However, the school district has continued to refuse any role in their failures to protect students. Panish | Shea | Ravipudi’s sexual assault attorneys are available to hold the school district accountable and to work on behalf of children and their families. When institutions fail — by allowing someone like Tellez to work unchecked, ignoring red flags, or failing to act on reports — they must be held to account. Call or email us today.
Liability for Glendale Unified School District Sexual Abuse
Regrettably, instances of sexual abuse within educational institutions are not uncommon. An estimated 1 in 10 students will experience school employee sexual misconduct by the time they graduate high school. Further, the number of incidents of sexual abuse is often underreported because survivors may be afraid or ashamed to tell adults.
Children are particularly vulnerable to sexual abuse committed by school personnel. Perpetrators are often teachers, coaches, and other staff members who exploit their position of trust with children and their parents to carry out sexual abuse. Students who are the victims of sexual abuse may not believe it to be as severe as it is and often do not understand the influential behavior a teacher or other faculty member may have on them.
School districts have a duty to protect students from harm, including sexual abuse. Failure to fulfill this duty can result in significant physical, emotional, and psychological harm to the victims. It’s imperative to address this issue seriously and understand the legal principles surrounding school district liability for the sexual abuse of students.
Although many school districts have policies and procedures to prevent abuse, they fail to enforce them consistently and effectively. Shockingly, in some cases, school districts even try to cover up allegations of abuse rather than reporting them to law enforcement. In some instances, before the abuse is reported, a teacher-offender can transfer to another district and move on to other victims. On average, a teacher-offender will pass through three different districts before being stopped, ad one offender can have as many as 73 victims in his or her lifetime.
Examples of situations where a school district may be held liable for sexual abuse of students include:
- Failure to conduct proper background checks on employees, which could have revealed a history of sexual misconduct.
- Ignoring reports or complaints of sexual abuse made by students, parents, or other staff members.
- Negligent supervision of students, allowing opportunities for abuse to occur.
- Disregarding “red flags” indicating potential abuse, such as inappropriate behavior between staff members and students or changes in a student’s behavior or demeanor.
When school districts fail to take appropriate action to prevent or address sexual abuse, they can be held accountable for the harm suffered by the victims. Survivors of sexual abuse within school districts have legal options available to seek justice and compensation for their injuries.
In California, for instance, survivors of sexual abuse have legal recourse against school districts for the failure of school leaders to protect them. A sexual abuse attorney can assess the specific circumstances of a survivor’s case and help determine the available legal options for pursuing justice.
It is crucial for school districts to prioritize the safety and well-being of their students and to implement transparent and effective policies and procedures to prevent sexual abuse. By holding school districts accountable for instances of sexual abuse, we can strive to create safer educational environments where students can learn and thrive without fear of exploitation or harm.