Former Salinas High School Teacher Sentenced for Sexually Abusing 2 Students

Govea’s pattern of sexual abuse against Jane Doe and Jane Doe 2 follow a similar pattern we often see in school sexual assault cases. Jane Doe was in Govea’s biology class as a freshman and kept in touch with him when she was no longer his student. The former teacher began the process of grooming by messaging her about mobile games. After building a friendship with her, he convinced her to meet up with him for acts that were clearly sexual in nature.

There was an initial investigation that could have resulted in criminal prosecution, but the victim’s resolved broke down when Govea asked her, “Are you going to ruin my life?” Like a true coward, Govea exploited the love and trust she felt for him so that he could get away with his crime. Because the case was dismissed without prejudice, Jane Doe was able to refile charges with the Monterey County District Attorney’s office.

As for Jane Doe 2, she was 16 at the time and helping Govea as a teaching assistant when he began his campaign of grooming. His flirting initially made her feel special and over time, he convinced her to come to his house, where they engaged in a sex act. For her, the process of recovery began when she posted her story on the Instagram account “Thisisour831.”

According to Jane Doe 2, it took a long time before she understood the laws or the psychology behind how Govea took advantage of her. But she finally has finally realized that she is not “the one who should feel sorry.” Both her and Jane Doe hope that their actions inspire more sexual assault victims to come forward.

Even though there is a specific individual who molested you, it’s likely that negligence by other staff members and school officials contributed to the harm you suffered. That’s why lawsuit sfor sexual abuse by a sports coach, bus driver, lunch aide, and other school employees are filed against the school district, and not just the perpetrator.

So far, we do not know the exact details of how school officials reacted when they found out about or had suspicions of sexual misconduct by Juan Govea. Even if the victims didn’t tell anyone, there are plenty of signs that indicate an inappropriate relationship between students and teachers. At the very least, there should be adequate supervision and clear protocols on not meeting students outside the school unless there are other witnesses (other teachers, students, or the child’s parent, for example).

As more details are released, it’s more than likely that we will hear of how the district failed in their duty of care to protect students from Juan Govea, and perhaps other predatory adults at the school. Our attorneys have been representing school sexual abuse victims for decades, and we have yet to see a case where the school system had no responsibility for what their students were going through.

More often than not, the case just “slips through the cracks,” even though the student is promised that an investigation will take place. Alternatively, they will look into the matter but hide any evidence that indicates child sexual abuse. In some cases, the student is simply told that it was all a misunderstanding, or they are somehow to blame for the incident. Even worse, these offenders are rarely removed from the school system, nor do they lose their teaching license. If there are any consequences, it’s usually a quiet and swift resignation with a spotless record that allows them to be hired by another district.

The bottom line is, it’s unlikely that Govea’s victim list includes only 2 students. There may be other victims at Salinas High School, but also from other schools and places of employment where the 40-year-old came into contact with minors. As for what the schools knew or didn’t know, what actions they failed to take, etc., these are questions that can serve as grounds for a lawsuit against Salinas High School.

For the most part, settlements for a school sexual abuse lawsuit are between $1,500,000 and $5,000,000. Those who were sexually assaulted tend to receive higher payments than victims of solicitation and sexual harassment, but there are certainly exceptions to the rule. Based on a variety of issues, like the severity of injuries and willful misconduct by the school, the value of a lawsuit for sexual abuse by a teacher can exceed $10,000,000. However, it’s important to note that the amount of compensation is typically $5,000,000 or less on behalf of a plaintiff who was sexually assaulted by one of their teachers.

Child molestation lawsuits typically take 12 to 24 months to settle, and up to 3 years or longer if we need to ask for a trial date. Unfortunately, the process to sue a school district is very complicated, and that alone adds to the amount of time it takes to recover a school sexual abuse lawsuit settlement. Then, you have to consider how damaging it is for a school system to be associated with allegations of sexual assault. Any school district would put up a fight, and that’s why having an experienced child sex abuse lawyer is crucial if you plan on suing the Salinas Union High School District.

As for the possibility of your case going to trial, it’s very unlikely, since over 95% of all sexual abuse lawsuits are eventually settled. But if it becomes necessary to try your case in court, it will take up to several years to obtain your compensation award.

As a victim of sexual abuse during childhood, you must file a lawsuit by whichever of the following dates comes later:

• The date of turning 40 years old, which gives you 22 years after your 18^th birthday to initiate a civil complaint
• 5 years from whenever you realize an injury caused by the emotional and/or physical trauma of sexual abuse.

The realization of abuse-related injuries is known as the discovery rule, and it’s very common among children who are sexually abused by a teacher or another school employee. Instead of going to someone, minors tend to repress these incidents. Then again, telling the principal or someone else in charge isn’t always helpful, as we have seen in far too many cases of sexual assault and harassment at schools throughout California.

Sadly, not dealing with the trauma of sexual abuse almost always leads to mental health issues for the victim. However, most people who were sexually violated by a trusted adult are unaware that these problems are abuse-related injuries. With many of our clients, they did not come to this realization until they saw a therapist much later on in their lives. There’s no telling how old someone will be at the point of discovery, which is why you are given 5 years to sue a school district if you find out about an injury past the 22-year statute of limitations.

Legal changes within the past few years have allowed more victims to come forward and demand justice for sexual abuse during their childhood. You too, can seek advice from one of our attorneys and determine the best way to move forward if you were sexually abused by Juan Govea or another teacher at Salinas High School.

There’s no cost to you for a consultation, nor will you pay a single cent in legal fees if you wish to file a lawsuit. We cover all the expenses associated with your case and wait to be reimbursed by the Salinas Union High School District. Plus, we offer a Zero Fee Guarantee, so you won’t receive any bills from us if we don’t recover your settlement.

For a free case review with a lawyer who can sue for sexual abuse by a teacher, contact our law firm.