Latest News
Sexual abuse lawsuit targets East Side Union High School District
A new lawsuit filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court alleges that former Piedmont Hills High School track coach Chioke Robinson repeatedly sexually abused a young female student both on and off school grounds.
The civil suit was filed on behalf of “Jane Doe,” who chooses to remain anonymous, by San Jose-based Cerri, Boskovich & Allard.
Jane ran track at Piedmont Hills High School in San Jose, which is part of the East Side Union High School District. She says her track coach, Chioke Robinson, began sexually grooming her in 2009, when she was a 15-year-old sophomore, by hugging her, spending time alone with her during the off-season, buying her lunch and driving her places.
Robinson also bought Jane things like track shoes and tights.
“These are all red flags that we know predators use to lure their victims,” attorney Robert Allard said. “Tragically, that’s what happened here – Robinson used his position as a trusted coach and authority figure to lure my client into illegal sex acts during her junior year. He’s a sexual predator who needs to be kept away from young women and girls.”
Robinson’s inappropriate behavior was reported to school officials sometime around 2012 by a mother who had heard the coach was “involved in a sexual relationship with Jane Doe,” the lawsuit says.
“The school district did nothing, they just ignored the mother’s report,” Mr. Allard said. “They neglected their duty to protect students and instead allowed Robinson to continue coaching young girls. The school district also failed to report his behavior to the San Jose Police Department, as required by law.”
Robinson was arrested in February 2019 by the San Jose Police Department’s Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and charged with sexually assaulting four girls between the ages of 12 and 17.
He was bound over for trial in July, after Jane Doe and other victims testified at Robinson’s preliminary hearing.
Mr. Allard and his team also represent a Robinson victim from Los Gatos High School who was allegedly abused in the late 1990s.
“We know it’s highly likely that Robinson sexually abused other young women who are afraid to come forward,” Mr. Allard said. “But it’s important they do because he must be stopped. Years later, my clients continue to suffer from the abuse that could have so easily been prevented.”
Anyone with information regarding Robinson is urged to contact Cerri, Boskovich & Allard at 408-289-1417 or visit cmalaw.net.
