To John Doe, a victim of wrestling coach sex abuse, wrestling coach Kevin Lopez seemed like a really nice person. He invited Doe to a state wrestling tournament. He even paid all the expenses, even though they were going to watch the tournament and not participate.
Lopez’s motivations later became clear in the Summer of 2014. Lopez convinced Doe to join a youth group at the New Life Church and sexually molested him.
Doe’s parents learned what was happening when they found inappropriate texts from Lopez on their son’s cell phone. Police extracted many more deleted messages from the device which painted a clear picture of Lopez’s grooming and molestations. Lopez was finally arrested with police discovering that he had been grooming and molesting young boys for ten years.
Child Sex Abuse Often Goes UnreportedOne of the most underreported crimes in the U.S. is childhood sex abuse. Experts estimate that up to 94% of childhood sex crimes in the United States go unreported. Because the reporting rate is less than ten percent, offenders know they have a good chance of not getting caught.
Research shows that one in four girls and one in six boys are sexually abused before their eighteenth birthday. And that nightmare came true for three boys and student athletes training under California High wrestling coach Kevin Lopez. Lopez pleaded guilty in 2015 to eight counts of lewd acts committed with children under the age of 15.
A Failure to Properly Investigate Child Sex AbuseSchool administrators received numerous complaints about Kevin Lopez’s behavior. But rather than report his actions to law enforcement or Child Protective Services, California High administrators chose to conduct a private investigation. Even as mandated reporters under California law, the failure to report to knowledgable sex abuse investigators resulted in Lopez getting away. He continued to work with and later molest John Doe.
Child sex crimes are horrible. But they’re even more so when the child trusts and admires someone like their coach. Student athletes become emotionally attached to their coaches and a real bond of kinship and respect forms between the two individuals. When coaches begin to molest their athletes, it’s a betrayal in the purest sense. The tragedy is further compounded when school administrators ignore mandatory reporting laws by conducting their own investigation. Too often, the result is a miscarriage of justice.
You should be aware of the signs of childhood sex abuse so you can report to CPS or the police when you suspect a wrestling sex abuse case has taken place.
Protecting Your Legal Rights in a Wrestling Coaching Sex Abuse CaseThe sexual abuse law firm of Cerri, Boskovich & Allard has tried dozens of child sex abuse cases. We have the experience and perseverance to take on pedophiles and the negligent institutions which enable wrestling coach sex abuse. We’ll obtain for you the fair and just compensation the victim and his or her family deserves. No financial amount can take back all the trauma and sorrow and pain of childhood sex abuse. At the same time, no family should be required to pay for the lifelong effects of childhood sex abuse, which will probably be necessary after a case of wrestling coach sex abuse. Families often use monetary settlements to obtain healthcare and therapy for their child.
Wrestling coach sex abuse cases like Kevin Lopez's make persistent, competent litigation necessary. When you want justice for harms done to you or your children, call on the experienced trial lawyers at Cerri, Boskovich & Allard. If your child is molested by a wrestling coach, we’ll explain your legal options and fight for fair compensation. Call (408) 289-1417 for a free and confidential consultation to learn more.
“Working with CBA has been a truly remarkable experience. They exude genuineness, openness, and transparency, transforming a challenging situation into a positive one. Lauren, in particular, consistently displayed empathy, ensuring a comfortable and safe environment throughout.”
“Every step of the way, Lauren gave me hope when I felt hopeless, and she gave me help when I felt helpless. Lauren was the attorney who I knew was in my corner, and she will undoubtedly continue to be in the corner of survivors to hold their abuser and institution accountable.”
“What happened to me needed to be addressed. I missed out on such an important part of my life, while my institution made no qualms. You don’t get to push kids under a rug. I’m glad I was given an opportunity to address my broken life.”