OC high school football players accused of sexually assaulting a teammate in a new lawsuit

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif. (KABC) — A former Santa Margarita Catholic High School football player is describing the alleged sexual assault he suffered by several teammates before practice last month.

The boy, now 16, is represented by Brian Williams with Greenberg Gross LLP.

“They turned off the lights, several teammates grabbed him and held him down, and then he was attacked,” Williams said. “My client went into the locker room just like the other day to change clothes and get ready for training. Unfortunately, he was ambushed by a large group of teammates.”

The victim and his mother filed a lawsuit against SMCHS and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Orange for negligence, negligent failure to warn, train or educate, and emotional distress.

According to the lawsuit, the victim was subjected to a violent attack of a sexual nature.

“This is not normal,” Williams exclaimed. “No child on any team, male, female, any sport, should walk into a locker room and be ambushed and then tied up and have their genitals or any part of their body assaulted. This should not happen. “

After the attack, the victim tried to get help but was intercepted by another player.

The lawsuit states the player told the victim, “This is football, you knew what you signed up for.”

Williams said: “I strongly disagree. This is not football. This is not any sport. This is not a random game. This is a tragic event that no child should be exposed to.”

The Diocese of Orange says it takes the allegations seriously and is committed to providing a safe, supportive environment for all students.

“The school quickly took certain personnel measures out of an abundance of caution,” the diocese said.

Williams said the school’s head football coach was placed on administrative leave.

The diocese said, “From the beginning, Santa Margarita Catholic High School has fully cooperated with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, which conducted an extensive investigation.”

OCSD Sergeant and Public Information Officer Frank Gonzalez said the sheriff’s department was contacted by Hoag Hospital in Irvine on September 24 due to reports from a juvenile that he had been sexually assaulted by teammates at SMCHS.

Sergeant Gonzalez said 15 people associated with the school, including students, were interviewed.

He said their investigation revealed crimes at the level of sexual assault or sexual assault.

The evidence was presented to the victim’s mother to see if she wanted to prosecute.

Sergeant Gonzalez said she did not know and stated she would discuss the matter with the school.

If she chooses to press charges, OCSD will turn their findings over to the Orange County District Attorney’s Office.

Williams said his client is struggling with the aftermath of the alleged attack and is seeking help for mental health issues, including post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.

He does not believe this is an isolated incident, so he is urging other possible victims to come forward.